CHRISTIANITY AS A SYMBOLIC FORM. PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE

Svaki ljudski pokušaj približavanja i stvaranja zajedništva pretpostavlja dijalog. Dijalog o kojem ovdje govorimo je dijalog na akademskoj razini, odnosno dijalog koji uključuje razmjenu razumskih spoznaja i iskustava, tj. dijalog koji nastoji biti objektivan. Budući da se nalazimo na području spoznaje, logično je za ovaj zadatak zatražiti pomoć filozofije. Kao sažetak filozofskog objašnjenja problema dijaloga moglo bi se reći da filozofija promatra dijalog u okviru dva problema: dijalog kao polazište spoznaje, te spoznaja „drugoga“ kao preduvjet dijaloga. Ovi problemi nas upućuju na to da je za otvoreni dijalog potrebno biti svjestan načina na koji smo došli do određenih spoznaja, te kako prepoznati drukčijost „drugoga”. Prema našem skromnom sudu filozofski pristup koji bi mogao bitno pomoći rješavanju navedenih zadataka je onaj velikog filozofa XX. st. Ernsta Cassirera, koji razvija filozofiju simboličkih formi. Primjenom ovog filozofskog sustava u teologiji se dolazi do zaključka da je i kršćanstvo, budući da je religija, određena simbolička forma. Iznošenjem temeljnih elemenata filozofije simboličkih formi i njihovom primjenom na kršćanstvo, dolazi se do bitnih zaključaka o razvoju specifične kršćanske svijesti i iskustva, a time i spoznaje, te do pozitivnog prihvaćanja pluralnosti u kršćanstvu, što baca novo svijetlo na mogućnost ekumenskog dijaloga.Our starting position was the analysis of the possibility of the ecumenical dialogue, and it imposed a series of philosophical, i.e. epistemological problems whose solution and clarification is a precondition for a general understanding of the possibility of dialogue, but also of a specific ecumenical dialogue. The philosophy of the symbolic forms, i.e the philosophical system of Ernst Cassirer, offered a pattern for a different definition of Christianity as a worldview, or as a speculative system: understanding Christianity as a symbolic form. The mentioned philosophical system offers a possibility of bridging between theological epistemology and other modern cultural sciences. Since the goal of theological science is the achievement of the most objective statements, theology is a nonavoidable factor in the academic ecumenical dialogue. A general inquiry regarding the genesis of the experience and knowledge, aiming to clarify the specificity of Christianity and Christian knowledge was needed in order to base the above mentioned philosophical system on a solid ground. Results achieved through a philosophical analysis can illuminate the process of attaining knowledge and statements: this is necessary in order to understand the extent of the compatibility of the statements of particular Christian churches and communities, or the possibilities for a doctrinal conciliation. Further, the application of the philosophy of symbolic forms showed that human reality is a plural one, i.e. that it can always be approached from different angles that should not necessarily lead to relativism. By his philosophy Cassirer suggested that it is possible to reach a formal unity of different interpretations of the world, i.e. it is possible to unify them in a human, symbolic, formative and cultural activity. The application of philosophy in the ecumenical dialogue had this goal, and showed the possibility of a different approach in the ecumenical dialogue, their possibilities and abridgements, and was an encouragement in the search of new paths in edification of that mutual “between”