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The STUDIA UNIVERSITATIS BABEŞ-BOLYAI issue article summary
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Abstract: The cultural dimension of the faith. This article treats the value of
faith cultural area not only for its individual consequences but especially for the
social ones. In front of this area under discussion we propose a Franciscan paradigm
of understanding what should mean enculturation of the faith and the
evanghelisation of the culture. This thought is very often expressed in the Pope John
Paul II’s encyclicals, or in other Vatican documents. It is an actual and important
mission for the Catholic Church. In these works are enumerated many of these
texts.
First of all we have to see the manner St. Francis of Assisi saw the culture. Speaking
of St. Francis philosophy seems to be nonsense, seems to make just some
speculation between his life, his acting and his writing and some other philosophical
ideas. But the notion of St. Francis philosophy is rather different from ours. His
concept of philosophy is closer to the Ancient Testament’s. Philosophy is more
about acting than about thinking. It is not only a way of good thinking, but especially
a way of good acting, the way to live God’s commandments. It is not an abstract
reflection, less about ordinary dates and more about syntetic things, it is not a reason
property but a human one. Philosophy for St. Francis is wise living. As it can be
seen, philosophy is more wisdom and not necesarely knowledge.
And philosophy, in this sense, builds the culture. Nay philosophy means culture, as
the culture embodies all human acting. Because the culture cannot represent just an
aesthetics area it is a larger concept, an existential one.
In this context the enculturation means not only to reformulate our faith in a more
accurate language, in today’s philosophy, but it indicates that the faith must infiltrate
all human actions. So it could become relevant for the society, and for each person.
It is the way faith grows in each of us and in the society as our community.
The Gospel must be understod with the culture categories, must be translated if it is
required. The second step is that the Gospel, faith, has to pass from a thinking
sphere to an acting field. This is also the subject of catechesis. That is the way St
Francis enculturated the faith in his life, the way his faith became significant for his
contemporans, and also for many of us in these days. |
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