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Lag i katolsk och luthersk teologi

Om lagbegreppet i Wolfhart Pannenberg, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, David P. Scaer och Johannes Paulus II encyklika Veritatis Splendor

Three main questions give the fundamental structure for this master thesis: 1) In what way is the notion of law being perceived in the following theologians respectively; David P. Scaer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Wolfhart Pannenberg? 2) In what way is the notion of law being perceived in the encyclical Veritatis Splendor? 3) Which similarities and divergences can be found in the respective expositions of the notion of law?For the purpose of comparison, I have employed four questions of analysis. These are: A) What is ?the law?? B) Is the law being effected, or is it working, in the world and if so - in what ways and for what purposes is it meant to serve? C) Does human beings have any capacities to understand and/or live in accordance to the law? D) Does the Gospel, perceived as the earthly life, actions, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, effect any alteration with respect to the purpose, range, function or interpretation of the law?In order to better understand Roman-Catholic concepts of law, the treatise on law of Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica is briefly presented. I have also analyzed and presented the encyclical Evangelium Vitae, so as to see whether it can add to the understanding of the Roman-Catholic notion of law as found in Veritatis Splendor. The Lutheran reception of Veritatis Splendor has been briefly discussed.Finally, I have compared the positions of these theologians in order to find similarities and divergences. Notable similarities are the tendency of John Paul II and David P. Scaer to view law as a unity, related to the essence of God. Each of the theologians also perceive a notion of law related to creation, expressed in terms of ?natural law? and the concept of ?the natural? found in Bonhoeffer. Furthermore they all have a high regard for the Decalogue, and find in it an expression of moral norms that can be said to be universal and appropriate for every human society. Notable divergences are the question of the absolute binding power of law, where Pannenberg and particularly Bonhoeffer answer in the negative whereas John Paul II answers in the affirmative. There are also apparent disagreements between the theologians in the questions of how the law relates to the Christian, and how the law relates to and functions in society.

Författare

Josef Edebol

Lärosäte och institution

Uppsala universitet/Systematisk teologi med livsåskådningsforskning

Nivå:

"Masteruppsats". Självständigt arbete (examensarbete) om 30 högskolepoäng (med vissa undantag) utfört för att erhålla masterexamen.

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