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The papar intends an analysis of the early writings of Karol Wojtyła, which are essential to understand the subsequent development of his thought. Our thesis Is that the core of Wojtyła's own philosophical and theological vision is already present both in his early literary works (poems and dramas) and in his doctoral thesis. These two mutually support and enrich each other. Therefore, the writings in question here may be dealt with as the true source of the though t of John Paul II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study attempts to explain the need and content of a «new» evangelization. Modern anthropology has affirmed the value of the individual, of human subjectivity, of the body, of freedom and autonomy, of human equality, of history, etc. The paper explains that this understanding is the fruit of Christian faith, fully ' lived and thought-out, and cannot subsist for long should this faith be eliminated. Principally on the basis of the writings of recent Popes, the conclusion is reached that new evangelization requires a recuperation of a eucharistic sense, a sense of recognition of the great gifts of God. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core of Joseph Ratzinger's theology is Christ, present in the Holy Scriptures and liturgy, and His relationship with the Church and Mary. Among the theological and ontological pillars of Ratzinger's thought, it is worth mentioning the person and the meaning of concepts such as love, truth, beauty and hope for that person. In view of the announcement of the Christian message, Ratzinger focuses on both faith and reason. Thus, his ideas on theology, catechesis and preaching are based on the relationship between those concepts. Finally, as regards to mission, it is important to highlight Ratzinger's statements about ministry and Eucharist (with relevant consequences for ecumenical theology), creation, religion and the relationship of the Church with the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to consider why questions such as the one enunciated in the title could arise within the field of Neuroscience and could at the same time be interesting for Theology. This bidirectional endeavor leads us to emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary studies for the experimental sciences and to undertake a deep reflection about the role of Theology in its relationship with the experimental sciences and in its guiding function as an exigency of thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the ideas of Benedict XVI on the understanding of love, as may be gleaned from his last encyclical and other pronouncements As regards love, there exist very diverse ideas which either reject its spiritual character, or deprive it of any objective criteria, or just deny it cynically. In contrast to these ideas, the Pope proposes a recuperation of the spiritual and rational dimensions of love. For only love that is understood in this way is Christian love, true love; and only thus does love has the capacity and power to shape all human activities, including social ones, as the Pope proposes in the Encyclical Caritas in veritate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of contemporary Hermeneutics suggests that there are some common problems shared by Philosophy and Theology, which may help to resolve the tensions between truth and languages, events and meaning, which currently beset Biblical exegesis (Fides et ratio). This article shows how some modern ideas, which are close to theological issues, prepared the way for the emergence of Heidegger's hermeneutic-existential philosophy which inspired hermeneutic philosophy. His thought takes its impulse from the relationship between history, factual life and knowledge in a theological perspective and concludes with the thesis of the end of metaphysics. The anti-metaphysical pathos of hermeneutic philosophy cannot be ignored by theology, which must interpret the sources, but also develop the intellectus fidei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between Philosophy and Theology is presented in the encyclical Fides et ratio (n. 73) not according to an «ancillary» scheme (seeing Philosophy as «ancilla» of Theology), but as a circular relationship. Both begin in the same way, and between both there must exist a profound relationship that allows both to be enriched. The theologian cannot do without Philosophy, nor can the philosopher ignore the reality of the Faith. This circularity necessarily leads to dialogue between faith and reason in every believer, and in the academic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though Fides et ratio mainly concerns the relationship between philosophy and theology, a careful reading of the text suggests that the activity of the sciences is not foreign to the core message of the encyclical. A few but meaningful references to scientific knowledge and to the activity of researchers, as personal subjects looking for the truth, are here considered. They show that science has an access to the human quest for a unique truth, and that also scientific knowledge detects the need to move from phenomenon to foundation, as it is stated by the encyclical for human knowledge in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate that carne about as a consequence of the speech given by Benedict XVI in Regensburg has not only given a new impulse to the relationship of Christianity and Islam, but it has also caused a new internal debate within the countries of Christian origin. In this paper we offer a summary of the main opinions formulated until now, which are useful to re-think and re-shape the current dialogue between faith and reason, modernity and Christianity, Europe and its Christian roots, non-Christian cultures and the Catholic Church, a debate in which many well-known intellectuals of diverse creeds have spoken. In this article we underline the precedents there are for the present Pope's stance, the first responses to his speech, and the subsequent interventions that have turned this discussion into a «Globalized discourse». [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the unsuccessful post- modern criticism of rationality, the current Magisterium is providing new arguments on the necessity of a tighter alliance between faith and reason. The main barrier to defeat Relativism appears to be the lack of solidarity between faith and reason. Therefore, we aim to reflect from both a philosophical and theological perspective, about two central ideas in Benedict XVI's thought. Firstly, we propose the need of a decision in favor of either reason or irrationality at the origin of the universe. Secondly, we suggest the importance of broadening our concept of rationality. The combination of the discussed arguments enables us to present Christian rationality as confident in the Reason at the origin unfolding throughout the time a meaningful goal according to human reason. We summarize this project as the role of divine action in history for human divinization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]