| dc.description.abstract | This work addresses, from the reflection of the belgian dominican theologian Edward
Schillebeeckx, two relevant and current themes in Christian theology: the question of
Christian identity and the "problem" of religious plurality. It is proposed to show that the
principle of openness to cultures and religions is constitutive of Christian identity, that is, it is
based on faith and not in spite of it. Cultural and religious diversity must be recognized and
respected from the Christian point of view. However, pluralism is not the fundamental reason
for welcoming others. Rather, Jesus Christ himself welcomed all without distinction, without
prejudice, for he did not live for himself but for the sake of the Reign of God, rooted in justice
and care for the poor and marginalized. Moreover, if Jesus Christ himself as the full and
definitive revelation of God is a decentralized reality, then Christianity, which wants to be
constituted as his historical body, must take the same principle as a reference. In other words,
Christianity must be decentralized from the alleged exclusivity and self-referentiality that
accompanied it for many years in order to open itself to the practice of the Kingdom of God.
This demands an attitude of welcome and openness. It must be borne in mind that the God of
Jesus is a symbol of openness rather than closure. The historical contingency of Jesus of
Nazareth as a limited manifestation of God's fullness does not exhaust his greatness but puts
him in special relationship to the recognition and acceptance of divine values present in the
world’s religions. Thus, pluralism is not an evil to be abolished; pluralism can offer a way for
religion to serve as a tool to overcome petty strife and open conflicts that, all too often, are
justified in terms of religious identity. It is a work, therefore, that gathers in Edward
Schillebeeckx's thinking the reasons why Christianity can and should be optimistic with other
religions without giving up its own identity and which, in the context of cultural and religious
plurality, calls on Christianity to update your message in the world. | eng |
