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===Introduction===
[[File:Vatican II Council.jpg|left|270px|thumbnail|Vatican II]]In 1959 Pope John XXIII called for an ecumenical council of the Catholic Church that would later be known at Vatican II. As a result of this council, the Catholic Church would dramatically change or reconsider its stance towards the world, it’s celebration of the liturgy, salvation, and the roles of clergy and the laity. Ending in 1965, the council would engender much debate, and even some reluctancy, by many conservative factions within the Church. However, despite the growing pains that resulted from its declarations, it drastically redefined what it meant to be Catholic in the world and evidenced the Church’s desire to speak directly to the modern man.
===What is an ecumenical Ecumenical Council?===
Historically, the way that the Catholic Church decides doctrinal debates and moral teaching is through dialogue among church authorities and officials--this is what is traditionally called a council or synod. The Catholic Church distinguishes between two types of councils, ecumenical councils and synods or provincial councils. Ecumenical councils are authoritative while synods or provincial councils are mere discussions that do not retain any authoritative status. The very first ecumenical council was the Council of Nicea (convened in the fourth century) and was mainly a response to what is known in Church History as the “Arian Crisis,” a heretical teaching about the Trinity which purported that Jesus Christ was created by God the Father, verses being con-substantial with the Father.<ref>For more on the Arian Crisis see: Irvin & Sunquist, History of the World Christian Movement. (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis, 2008).</ref>During this council the Nicene Creed as formulated, which is still used and recited during services today. The last ecumenical council happens to Vatican II, the topic of our discussion in this article. In the words of Pope John XXIII, “The major interest of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred heritage of Christian truth be safeguarded and expounded with greater efficacy.”<ref>Pope John XXIII. Opening Address to the Vatican II Council, October 11,1962.</ref>In other words, this council was convened in order to renew and reinvigorate the life of the church and to refine the sacred deposit of faith.</ref>
===Considerations in Soteriology===
[[File:470px-Karl Rahner by Letizia Mancino Cremer.jpg|left|270px|thumbnail|Karl Rahner]]One other main theological evolution of the council was its consideration of salvation outside of the Catholic Church. Prior to Vatican II it had long been the position of the Church that participation in the sacrament and belonging to the Catholic communion were essential for salvation. Though the Church still claims it is the medium through which God chose to extend salvation to mankind, it very explicitly suggested that salvation for those not belonging to the Catholic Church was certainly possible. Karl Rahner’s theology of the “Anonymous Christian” was particularly influential in the development of this doctrine. According to Rahner, it is entirely possible that an individual not belonging to the Church explicitly could be part of the church through the way they live according to their conscience and the demands of natural law. However, Rahner explicitly contends this theory is only applicable in cases where an individual is ignorant of the Gospel, not in cases where it is merely rejected. This approach is known as Constitutive Inclusivism. It states Christ and the Church are necessary for salvation, but asserts the possibility of God saving someone who does not belong to the Church.<ref>For more on Karl Rahner’s "Anonymous Christian" see: Kilby, Karen. <i>Karl Rahner: Theology and Philosophy </i>. (London: Routledge, 2004).</ref>
===Conclusion===
[[Category:Wikis]]
[[Category:Religious History]][[Category:Christian History]][[Category:German History]]
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