"Saved In Hope": Investigation Into The Meaning Of Salvation
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Date
2011
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Are Catholics saved? This is the most vital question, I suppose, to many
Catholics or other Christians. It certainly crosses denominational lines. The
inspiration to take up this research resulted from a significant incident I encountered
during my pastoral experience from June to August 2009 in Tonga Parish in
Western Kenya.
As a young Passionist religious, interested in having an enriching pastoral
ministry. I had an opportunity of meeting various people in the Small Christian
Communities. One of the main questions that came up very often in such meetings
was: Are Catholics saved? People were looking at me for an answer.
The concern of people in these Small Christian Communities is raised by
Christians of other denominations who look down to the Catholic in the area. They
refer to the Catholic Church as gunda (Luo term), which means a place that was
once inhabited, but now is abandoned and un-inhabited. The common phrase used
by the members of these religious groups when introducing themselves is, "I am so
and so and I am saved-. This is a provocation for some Catholics, who are tempted
to do the same. Provoked by this situation, I feel motivated to engage myself in a
systematic research on the Catholic concept of salvation.
The study is divided in three chapters. Chapter one investigates on the
biblical meaning of salvation. Particular attention will be paid to the soteriology of
St. Paul, certainly the most mature doctrinal stage in the New Testament. Chapter two in a more historical perspective examines the main post-biblical
soteriological ideas employed by the Church; mainly focused on Christ's salvific
work as described in St. Paul. We shall present the thought of the Church Fathers,
the Middle Ages, and the Reformers in particular Martin Luther.
Chapter three in a more systematic manner offers a comprehensive response
to the issues discussed in the previous two chapters. This will be elaborated in the
light of Second Vatican Council, post-Vatican II theology and the reflections of the
twenty first century theologies.
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Keywords
Saved In Hope, Salvation