Theology of the Holy Spirit

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Theology of the Holy Spirit

• The Contribution of Karl Rahner (d. 1984)

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God is holy mystery

• God is and always will be incomprehensible,
  beyond, other. . .
• But this same God gives himself to us.
• How?
• For Rahner, the basic mysteries of faith are the
  Trinity, the Incarnation, and grace.

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Anthropology Spirit in the World

• Preference for this terminology over body and
  soul
• Humanity has an orientation to the absolute
  (natural transcendence)
• There is a pre-thematic awareness of Being
  (Vorgriff auf Esse)

4
Hearers of the Word

• Human beings are structurally available to
  experience mystery
• AND in fact, God has revealed himself in love
• So, there is a supernatural existential -- we
  are all touched by grace

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Trinity, Incarnation, Grace

• The God who is Father (Creator) gives himself to
  us in two ways, which correspond to the
  bi-dimensionality of our constitution as human
  beings
• SPIRIT IN THE WORLD
• (Transcendent) (Historical)
• Holy Spirit The Christ

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So, who is the Holy Spirit?

• For Rahner, the Spirit is Gods gift to our
  spirit, God dwelling in us
• It is the presence of this spirit that gives us
  an awareness of transcendence AND that makes it
  possible to hear the word of the Gospel and to
  come to faith in Jesus.