Man and his future in Bajsić\u27s thought

Vjekoslav Bajsić (Čakovec 1924. - Zagreb 1994.), svećenik Zagrebačke nadbiskupije, profesor filozofije na Katoličkom bogoslovnom fakultetu i njegovim institutima u Zagrebu, odgovorni urednik i autor izdanja Kršćanske sadašnjosti, jedan je od najsnažnijih likova modeme hrvatske teološke misli. Kao filozof i teolog, bio je uronjen u promišljanje života u svijetu, koje je uglavnom usmjerio prema kršćanima laicima i njihovim problemima u odnosima sa svijetom u kojem žive — kako sa svjetovnim okruženjem tako i s crkvenom zajednicom. Misao Vjekoslava Bajsića osebujna je i nadasve pažnje vrijedna. Medu ostalim, karakterizira je njegov poseban interes za čovjeka. Već pri prvom susretu s njegovom mišlju čitatelju ostaje dojam da ona u sebi krije nešto novo, neuobičajeno, drukčije te da poziva na angažman — ljudski, vjernički i znanstveni. Bajsić se u svojemu teološkom promišljanju koristi, stoje razumljivo, filozofijom, ali i fizikom, biologijom, paleontologijom, psihologijom, etologijom i sociologijom. Sve radi toga da na što potpuniji i razumljiviji način progovori u svjetlu vjere današnjem čovjeku o njemu samome, o problemima koji ga muče i o tome kako se s njima »uhvatiti u koštac«, jer današnjem je čovjeku mnogo razumljiviji jezik tih znanosti od onog teološkog.In his deliberation about man, Vjekoslav Bajsić is focusing his basic enrootment in nature. With his specific interdisciplinary approach, Bajsić comes to the fundamental insight that man is, in spite of all of his cultural and scientific »layers«, basically a hunter, a robber, a gatherer. This is exceptionally evident in his behaviour, especially group behaviour, that is not authentically rational, but animal, dictated by animal automatism. On the other hand, Bajsić points out that the man is not defined but open being, not destined to stay within the boundaries of his animal automatism, and that the individual man is still a rational being who can control himself if he thinks, specially if there is an outside rational help available. The key of the problem, according to Bajsić, is in rationalisation of our group behaviour structures that have an immense influence on an individual so that sometimes, instead of giving him support and security, they prevent his development and rational living. Bajsić here points out the two basic structures of group behaviour in nature, the nest and the jungle, which he also recognises as the two basic structures of human behaviour throughout the history. He discovers a permanent »chameleon« presence of animal principles in human social behaviour through history, sensing where its consequences would lead the humanity. Because of that, Bajsić sees the future of humankind only in its opening to eternity and future itself as well as in urgent, responsible, thorough and concrete change in present human behaviour. The strength for that change he finds in the authentic Christianity. Namely, the authentic Christians both live and act from the future, from the faith in final God\u27s fulfilment of the promise about the coming of Jesus Christ and His kingdom in which all the basic longings of each human heart will also be fulfilled. Bajsić here also points out that it is time that we start building our lives together, on new, evangelic rules of mutual respect, help and co-operation. Namely, Bajsić claims that the humankind, if it would continue behaving according to the animal principles of his nature, has no future but only an impending catastrophe