Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

FAITH IN THE ORDER OF RATIO
Summary
When in 1977, in a book entitled At the root of modern atheism, French philosopher Marcel Neusch formulated the thesis about the coming of postatheistc age, he probably did not think, that at the beginning of the twenty-first century, atheistic thought reborn in the form of a so-called „new atheism”. Its main representatives: Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel C. Dennett and Sam Harris, taking the position of scientific scientism, attack with a renewed vigor not only all forms of religion, but also skepticism, relativism and epistemological agnosticism. Their main efforts focus on trying to argue that all faith is an act completely irrational, and the non-existence of God can be confirmed by scientific methods. This article is a polemic with the main theses of the new atheists. It shows the actual place of faith in the order of ratio and discusses the problem of possibility of proving the existence or the non-existence of God.
Keywords: faith, God, new atheism, religion, science, scientism

DOES CHRISTIANITY SURPASS OTHER RELIGIONS?
Summary
A detailed article of Wolfgang Klausnitzer aims at the answer to the following question: „Does Christianity surpass other religions?” In the first part of the paper the Author explains the understanding of the term religion throughout the ages and presents in a very detailed way a development and an attitude of thinkers towards religion in respective periods. In the second part he meditates upon the attitude of Christianity towards other religions. Does Christianity „dominates” other religions since it is not a religion but a revelation of God? Trying to answer this question the Author quotes different points of view on this matter and eventually refers to the note of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith from January 24, 2001. Its authors analysed in details the following five issues: On the sole and universal salvific mediation of Jesus Christ, On the unicity and completeness of revelation of Jesus Christ, On the universal salvific action of the Holy Spirit, On the orientation of all human beings to the Church, On the value and salvific function of the religious traditions.
Wolfgang Klausnitzer makes it very clear that the Catholic Church does not reject other religions, but examines with all gravity their writings and commandments.

CHRISTIAN CULTURE OF CELEBRATION AND A CULTURAL IDENTITY OF EUROPE – CONTINUATION AND A BREAK-UP
Summary
The author’s reflection focuses on two major assumptions. First of all religious rituals and liturgies, which is a Christian culture of a feast and celebration, include a recollective, performative and identity-creating power. Second of all religious rituals have an impact on culture and therefore on a cultural identity. If today in Europe a new religious awakening is expected, then similarly to the past a special role in this process belongs to rituals. Christian culture of celebrating affects a universal culture by celebrating feasts as a “religious counterpoint”, which is opening our everyday life to a “different” and Divine time and a transcendent dimension, by emphasizing a human dignity of every person in the sacrament of baptism regardless sex or a social background and by a practice of humanism shown to the dying and the deceased. The author emphasizes that if at the beginning of the twenty first century religion is described as a cultural source of Europe, it is a Christian culture of celebrating that may become its communicator.

MYSTICAL SYNCRETISM AS A THREAT TO FAITH
Summary
Mystical syncretism is a form of religious syncretism. The criticism of Christian mysticism from the dominance of liberal Protestantism, and the thesis of the identity of any mystical experiences substantially contributed to the formation of mystical syncretism. The dynamic development of the phenomenon seen in many countries of Western Europe, raises a reasonable dispute with the idea of a mystical syncretism on the part of Catholic theology. The main areas of controversy center on threats such as: the loss of their own religious identity, the danger of creating fertile ground for the spread of so-called new religion” and the threat of further development of interreligious dialogue.
Keywords: dialogue, faith, mysticism, religion, syncretism, theology

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE PROGRAMME OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.
Summary
The article focuses on the programme for high schools. It consists of four parts. In the first part it draws attention to the existing relation between the knowledge of truths about the Holy Spirit and respect for the sacrament of Confirmation. In the second part – the presence of truths about the Holy Spirit are portrayed. The third part contains discussion of the truths present in the Programme. The theme of the fourth part is the next three truths that should be known by the students who are receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.
Keywords: catechesis, Confirmation, Holy Spirit, programme, religion, teaching