ŚLĄSKIE STUDIA HISTORYCZNO-TEOLOGICZNE

DE LA REDEMPTION A LA CREATION?
La réflexion théologique, de même que la pensée biblique, est marquée par une convergence du théocentrisme et de l'anthropocentrisme. Il en résulte que l'homme devient l'objet des recherches théologiques non "sub occasione", mais "ex definitione". Dans ce contexte on peut même affirmer que l'ouverture historique du problème de l'identité de l'homme fonde la raison d'être de la théologie. La postmodernité d'aujourd'hui constitue une forme spécifique de ce problème. La théologie en postmodernité est obligée de ce concentrer surtout sur la problématique du sens de l'histoire. Ce sens s'identifie a la genèse créatrice de l'homme, c'est-a-dire, au processus de la continuation "rachetée" (Rédempteur) du dialogue créateur. Ce processus est pratico-social, dialectique et eschatologique. Son interprétation théologique identifiant l'histoire au "lieu" de l'actualisation du dialogue créateur, pourrait ranger toutes ses démarches dans le passage "de la rédemption a la création": du renouvellement (Rédemption) du processus créateur a son accomplissement (Création). Ainsi, l'horizon d'interprétation du sens de l'histoire est a trouver dans la théologie de la création. C'est dans cet horizon que les événements révélateurs (Israël - Jésus Christ - Eglise) deviennent les signes de fidélité de Dieu qui réalisera jusqu'au bout son Alliance Créatrice. Il semble que cet horizon d'interprétation assure la possibilité de la compréhension herméneutique des toutes les événements historiques. Tenant compte de cet horizon la pensée théologique doit rester humble.

THE QUESTION OF THE HOLOCAUST IN THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES’ DOCUMENTS
Abstract
The World Council of Churches (WCC), the largest ecumenical organization, gathering the Churches of Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old-Catholic traditions, has so far published two documents dealing with the Holocaust. The first one, “The Christian Approach to the Jews" was issued by the General Assembly of the WCC in Amsterdam, in 1948. Remembering the Holocaust and inviting Christians to mission to Jews, it condemned anti-Jewish attitudes and it stated that the Churches in the past had helped to foster an image of the Jewish people as the sole enemy of Christ, which had contributed to the modern anti-Semitism in the secular world. The second document, “The Ecumenical Considerations on Jewish-Christian Dialogue", announced by the Central Committee of the WCC in 1982, confirmed that Christian teachings of contempt for Jews and their religion in certain Churches’ traditions proved a breeding ground for the evil of the Nazi Holocaust. “The Considerations" contended that the Holocaust had deep-rooted socio-economic and political aspects. After the extermination of the Jewish people the Churches must learn so to preach and teach the Gospel as to make sure that it shall not be used to saw the seeds of contempt for Judaism and for the Jews. A further response to the Holocaust by Christians is a resolve that it will never happen again to the Jews or to any other people.

“I have fulfilled my holy duty”. Righteous Among the Nations Rev. Wincenty Mieczysław Zawadzki (1894–1975)
Among people honoured by the Yad Vashem Institute with the Righteous Among the Nations medal, the largest group consists of the Poles. One of them was rev. Mieczysław Zawadzki, for many years the parish priest of the Holy Trinity Parish in Będzin. As early as in the first days of September 1939, he saved the lives of many Jews and continued to help them in the subsequent years. Several years after the war, the saved ones contacted the priest and corresponded with him on a regular basis until his death in 1975. This article presents the circumstances that led to rev. Mieczysław Zawadzki’s involvement in helping the Jews of Będzin, placing him among the Righteous Among Nations. Moreover, the text briefly describes his pastoral and social work in the light of the anti – church policy of the Polish People’s Republic authorities.