Karl Rahner - How to Celebrate Christmas

Karl Rahner (1904-1984) was one of the most influential Catholic philosophers and theologians of the mid to late twentieth century. A member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and a Roman Catholic priest, Rahner, as was the custom of the time, studied scholastic philosophy, Rahner's philosophy posited that the dynamic thrust of the knowing mind understands the being-most-irreducible as God and the unity of being and spirit in knowing. The Absolute or God is implicitly and intrinsically affirmed in the dynamic of every act of knowing. Rahner maintained that the fulfillment of human existence consists in receiving God's self-communication, and that the human being is actually constituted by this divine self-communication. He identifies grace with the self-communication of God. For Rahner, the human being is intrinsically open to God or the Absolute. It is necessarily the receptacle of revelation. In Rahner’s view, even if God or the Absolute remains utterly silent and completely hidden that silence and hiddenness, are, in fact, revelations. Revelation, however, does not resolve the Mystery; it increases cognizance of God's incomprehensibility. Experiences of the mystery of themselves point people to the Absolute Mystery, "an always-ever-greater Mystery." https://iep.utm.edu/rahner/ _____________________________________________ 🙏 May whatever goodness arises from these readings/offerings be for the benefit of all sentient beings. 🔆 Thank you to everyone who has written to inquire about offering a donation or gift. You are welcome to do so, and all offerings will go towards supporting monastic requisites and overheads at Viveka Hermitage. There are two options to donate using this email address: [email protected] with PayPal or using this link: https://paypal.me/VivekaHermitage Alternatively, donations can also be made via 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐄 - please contact us on the email above for account details.