Trends in Christianity (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes
Contemporary Issues in Christology
What is christology?
Christology is the study of who Jesus is and seeks to address the fundamental question "but who do you say that I am?" For Christians, Jesus Christ represents the most significant revelation of God. Through Jesus, believers come to know God in a special way. Christology involves ongoing efforts to understand Jesus and the implications of his life, death and resurrection.
Christology is derived from the Greek words "Christos" (Christ) and "logos" (study or word), making it literally the "study of Christ." This field of theology has been central to Christian thought since the earliest centuries of the church.
Dermot A. Lane's approach
Dermot A. Lane, an Irish theologian, offers a sophisticated understanding of Christology, particularly in his work "Christ at the Centre: Selected Issues in Christology." Lane's approach focuses on making Christology relevant to contemporary human experience.
Key aspects of Lane's christology
The incarnation as solidarity Lane emphasises the Incarnation as demonstrating God's profound solidarity with humanity. He argues that God becoming flesh reveals God's love and shows divine commitment to justice, liberation, and reconciliation. This view presents the Incarnation not merely as a theological concept but as God's transformative engagement with human suffering and experience.
Lane's emphasis on solidarity reflects liberation theology influences, where God's involvement in human struggle becomes a central theme in understanding Christ's mission.
Christ at the centre Central to Lane's approach is positioning Christ as the "centre" of history and creation, offering hope and renewal. He critiques overly abstract or dogmatic approaches to Christology, instead advocating for a practical, lived faith that actively engages with social, political, and ecological challenges facing the modern world.
Integration with contemporary experience Lane stresses that Christology must address both the historical Jesus and the Christ of faith, carefully balancing the divine and human dimensions of Jesus' identity. His work makes Christology accessible and relevant to modern believers by connecting it with contemporary concerns.
Lane's dual focus on the historical Jesus and the Christ of faith addresses one of the most significant challenges in modern Christology - maintaining both the human and divine aspects of Jesus' identity while making it relevant to contemporary believers.
Ecological christology Lane explores the relationship between Christology and ecology, suggesting that Jesus' message extends to caring for creation. This reflects what he terms a "cosmic Christology" that encompasses environmental responsibility as part of Christian discipleship.
Catholic tradition and dialogue Lane's Christology remains deeply rooted in Catholic tradition whilst being open to dialogue with other disciplines and contemporary thought. His work invites readers to see Christ as a dynamic presence in the world, calling for active participation in God's mission of love and justice.
Elizabeth Johnson's feminist theological approach
Elizabeth Johnson emphasises gender equality in her book "Waves of Renewal in Christianity." Her approach presents the revolutionary idea that Christians can learn from Jesus' treatment of women as a model for how the church should treat them today.
Core principles of Johnson's approach
Jesus and patriarchy Johnson argues that Jesus did not conform to the patriarchal structures of his time. Instead, Jesus treated women as equals, demonstrating a radically different approach to gender relations that challenges traditional church practices.
Johnson's argument challenges nearly two millennia of church tradition by suggesting that Jesus' own behaviour towards women should be the model for contemporary church practice, rather than later patriarchal interpretations.
Feminist theology characteristics Johnson explains that feminist theology arises from recognising that women's exclusion from public theological discourse has resulted in Christian theology containing misogynistic biases. Therefore, feminist theology must include both men and women to address these imbalances.
Three approaches in feminist theology
Johnson identifies three key ways to develop feminist theological perspectives:
Johnson's Three-Fold Approach to Feminist Theology
1. Deconstruction - Unmasking patterns of domination within traditional theological frameworks
2. Discovery - Searching for ignored traditions that might contribute to fuller personhood for women
3. Reconstruction - Developing a vision for the future that will sustain all life
These approaches work together systematically to create a more inclusive understanding of Christianity that values both male and female perspectives equally.
Contemporary relevance
Both Lane and Johnson demonstrate how Christology continues to evolve and address modern concerns. Lane's work shows how traditional Christian understanding of Jesus can engage with contemporary social, political and environmental issues. Johnson's feminist approach highlights how examining Jesus' treatment of women can inform current church practices and promote gender equality.
These contemporary approaches to Christology demonstrate that understanding Jesus remains a dynamic, ongoing process that must engage with the challenges and opportunities of each generation.
The work of theologians like Lane and Johnson represents a broader trend in contemporary Christian theology towards contextual and liberating interpretations of traditional doctrines, making them more relevant to diverse modern experiences.
Key Points to Remember:
- Christology is the study of who Jesus is and addresses the question "who do you say that I am?"
- Lane emphasises the Incarnation as God's solidarity with humanity and advocates for practical, engaged faith
- Johnson focuses on feminist theology, arguing that Jesus' treatment of women should guide church practice today
- Both theologians make Christology relevant to contemporary concerns whilst remaining rooted in Christian tradition
- Contemporary Christology continues to evolve as theologians address modern social, political, environmental and gender issues