Indestructible And Always Current Contribution of Karl Rahner SJ (1904- 1984) to the Contemporary Theological Anthropology

Karl Rahner is undoubtedly one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. He has influenced and is still having an impact on its shape and trends. It can be seen from the example of his theological anthropology. His vision of a man is decidedly theological and perceived as such becomes the most important foundation of anthropology. The message of faith constitutes the highest standard and an unregulated signifi cant expression of a man. Theological interpretation of its essence occurs in the historical and living conditions of dependency and inadequacy of a man. A man is a supernatural existential (übernatürliches Existential), so as a being is qualified to grace by nature, to the supernatural, and finally defined by that reality. The most important event in human life is the fact that God turned to him and revealed him. It allows to read all theological dogmas as statements of anthropology. A man is in fact the point of intersection of God’s revelation and historical experience of himself. For Rahner a man in his deepest essence is a spirit in the world and a hearer of God’s words, a recipient of his revelation possible for recognition by the natural mind. A man is also potentia oboedientialis – an active potency to show God the obedience of faith and love as his supernatural grace. According to Rahner, Christology is the most radical, exceeding everything repetition of theological anthropology. Rahner starts his reflection in the field of theological anthropology from a man and his experience, in order to demonstrate that a man does not exist without God, moreover, a man is unthinkable. In the era of postmodern blurring of the essential philosophical and theological concepts this German theologian presents the basic truth about the legitimacy of being a Christian, the beauty of humanity relies on God, and also about the nonsense and tragedy of atheism. The whole theological thought and activity of Karl Rahner served to demonstrate the falsity and harm of theoretical as well as existential dimension of atheism. A man confirms by every act of his being, thinking and wanting that there is a God who loves his creation