Date of Award

7-1985

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Theology

Abstract

Since the Enlightenment, the foundation of Christian belief has suffered a crisis of validity and credibility. Today that crisis still exists, and in the last 200 years, various responses have arisen. The most common responses have been formalized in a branch of theology called apologetics and more recently in what is known as fundamental theology, which primarily functions to establish the credibility of Christian Revelation. However, fundamental theology's own relationship with revelation has raised a number of still unanswered questions. For example, if fundamental theology accepts revelation as a starting point, has it not already thereby given up its objectivity in the search for establishing the credibility of revelation, or on the other hand, if fundamental theology begins with revelation in doubt, is the enterprise any longer theology? The purpose of this paper is to clarify a proper starting point in fundamental theology and proceed with an illustration of the value of this approach with the question of the transmission of revelation as suggested by Protestant theologian H. Richard Niebuhr and Vatican II.

Comments

Masters Essay, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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