Karl Rahner(1904-1984)
Rahner joined the Society of Jesus in 1920. He completed his training there from 1922 to 1924, the novitiate. From 1924 he studied philosophy in Feldkirch, Austria, and in Pullach near Munich. He then gained practical experience as an educator and Latin teacher in Feldkirch from 1927 onward. In 1929 he began studying theology in Valkenburg, the Netherlands, which he completed in 1933. In 1932 he was ordained a priest. From 1934 Rahner studied philosophy at the philosophy faculty in his hometown. He was a student of Martin Heidegger, who particularly influenced him. Rahner switched to theology before completing his studies.
In 1936 he received his doctorate in Innsbruck. His dissertation is about the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. It was published in 1929 under the title "Spirit in the World". In 1937 Rahner completed his habilitation in Innsbruck. He then began teaching there. In 1938, Austria was "annexed" to the German Empire by the National Socialists. The theological faculty in Innsbruck was closed and the following year a ban was imposed on Jesuits. From 1939 Rahner worked at the pastoral institute in Vienna. In 1941 one of his major works entitled "Hearer of the Word" was published. In it he addresses the problem of divine revelation from the human perspective. In the years 1944 to 1945 he stayed in Lower Bavaria, where he held a pastor's position.
In 1945 he accepted an appointment as professor of dogmatics in Pullach near Munich. In 1948 he left Pullach and held a professorship for dogmatics and the history of dogma at the theological faculty in Innsbruck. Between 1954 and 1984, his sixteen-volume series "Writings on Theology" was successively published. From 1964 Rahner settled in Munich, where he taught as a professor of Christian worldview and religious philosophy. He succeeded Romano Guardini. From 1965 Rahner published the magazine "Concilium". In the same year he worked as editor of the source collection of church documents "Enchiridon Symbolorum". This was followed in 1967 by the professorship for dogmatics and dogmatic history in Münster. In 1969 Rahner became a member of the papal theological commission.
In 1971 he retired to become an honorary professor for theological and philosophical border issues at the Jesuit College in Munich. The following year he was honorary professor of dogmatics and dogmatic history in Innsbruck. In 1976, another important work by Rahner was published under the title "Basic Course of Faith". His other literary works include theological reference works. His entire oeuvre includes around 3,500 works. On his 80th birthday, the University of Innsbruck announced the Karl Rahner Prize for theological research. In his life's work, Rahner made a significant contribution to the emergence of the Catholic Church into the modern age. He was initially a council advisor to Cardinal König and later an official council theologian at the Second Vatican Council.
His "Writings on Theology", the publication of the "Quaestines disputatae" and his "Lexicon for Theology and Church" influenced the Council, which acquired great importance for the history of the Catholic Church in the 20th century. In his philosophical studies, Rahner drew inspiration from Immanuel Kant and the Jesuit Joseph Maréchal, who founded the doctrine of transcendental Thomism. In his investigations into Catholic theology, Rahner was always open to modern philosophical views such as existentialism or personalism. His intensive theological work was primarily aimed at problems that arose through modern science and philosophy.
Rahner made a name for himself as an important theologian of modern times who fundamentally rethought Catholic theology. He viewed the examination of Christian faith and life as a fundamental task of theology. In addition to his participation in scientific institutions such as the "Ecumenical Working Group", "Paulus Society" and "International Theological Commission", Rahner was also involved in fundamental church events such as the Synod of the Bishoprics in Germany, through which he spread and promoted his theological views.
In 1936 he received his doctorate in Innsbruck. His dissertation is about the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. It was published in 1929 under the title "Spirit in the World". In 1937 Rahner completed his habilitation in Innsbruck. He then began teaching there. In 1938, Austria was "annexed" to the German Empire by the National Socialists. The theological faculty in Innsbruck was closed and the following year a ban was imposed on Jesuits. From 1939 Rahner worked at the pastoral institute in Vienna. In 1941 one of his major works entitled "Hearer of the Word" was published. In it he addresses the problem of divine revelation from the human perspective. In the years 1944 to 1945 he stayed in Lower Bavaria, where he held a pastor's position.
In 1945 he accepted an appointment as professor of dogmatics in Pullach near Munich. In 1948 he left Pullach and held a professorship for dogmatics and the history of dogma at the theological faculty in Innsbruck. Between 1954 and 1984, his sixteen-volume series "Writings on Theology" was successively published. From 1964 Rahner settled in Munich, where he taught as a professor of Christian worldview and religious philosophy. He succeeded Romano Guardini. From 1965 Rahner published the magazine "Concilium". In the same year he worked as editor of the source collection of church documents "Enchiridon Symbolorum". This was followed in 1967 by the professorship for dogmatics and dogmatic history in Münster. In 1969 Rahner became a member of the papal theological commission.
In 1971 he retired to become an honorary professor for theological and philosophical border issues at the Jesuit College in Munich. The following year he was honorary professor of dogmatics and dogmatic history in Innsbruck. In 1976, another important work by Rahner was published under the title "Basic Course of Faith". His other literary works include theological reference works. His entire oeuvre includes around 3,500 works. On his 80th birthday, the University of Innsbruck announced the Karl Rahner Prize for theological research. In his life's work, Rahner made a significant contribution to the emergence of the Catholic Church into the modern age. He was initially a council advisor to Cardinal König and later an official council theologian at the Second Vatican Council.
His "Writings on Theology", the publication of the "Quaestines disputatae" and his "Lexicon for Theology and Church" influenced the Council, which acquired great importance for the history of the Catholic Church in the 20th century. In his philosophical studies, Rahner drew inspiration from Immanuel Kant and the Jesuit Joseph Maréchal, who founded the doctrine of transcendental Thomism. In his investigations into Catholic theology, Rahner was always open to modern philosophical views such as existentialism or personalism. His intensive theological work was primarily aimed at problems that arose through modern science and philosophy.
Rahner made a name for himself as an important theologian of modern times who fundamentally rethought Catholic theology. He viewed the examination of Christian faith and life as a fundamental task of theology. In addition to his participation in scientific institutions such as the "Ecumenical Working Group", "Paulus Society" and "International Theological Commission", Rahner was also involved in fundamental church events such as the Synod of the Bishoprics in Germany, through which he spread and promoted his theological views.
