Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a Fundamental Theology

by Joseph Ratzinger

A collection of articles and talks written around a central theme the fundamental structure of Catholicism, the inter-relationship of other forms of Christianity, the features that distinguish Catholicism from other Christian theologies. Ratzinger outlines the fundamental principles of theology and the proper relationship of theology to Church teaching and authority.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Catholic, Christian, Christianity

404 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1987

About the author

See also Pope Benedict XVI

Reviews

[Colin Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous gentleman to review this book gave a link to some spurious website concerning the heretical errors contained in this book. Unfortunately that website isn't the best source for determining the orthodox nature of a theological work. However, having said that, this book is very erudite if not dense, yet it is very fruitful. Also, this book is a series of essays written over a ten year period which concern fundamental theology. FT is a branch of theology in the Catholic Church whereby, as a discipline, seeks to muster together the different aspects of revelation and theology and clarify them for those inside the Church and for dialogue with those outside as well. Think of Fundamental Theology as both the State and Defense departments of the tradition of the Catholic Church. Ratzinger was a major contributor to it but it was 'founded' by Henri de Lubac in the mid-1930's. It is still developing and is in its nascent stages.

Some sections of the book to check out:

Part 1:
Tradition, anthropology of.
Baptism
Conversion-metanoia

Part 2:
Ecumenism with Protestantism and ecclesiology.
Sacramental theology including the priesthood as necessary mediator-relationship.

Part 3:
Experience as basis for any faith.
Science in relation to theology.

This book is a very nuanced work and can be dense, so I hope that these sections can be fruitful reads to encourage you to continue through the end.

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typically brilliant Benedict XVI. Able to survey the theological currents of the 20th Century and separate wheat and chaff.

Not an easy read, but fruitful.

I wish the translator had at least parenthetically translated the frequent Latin.

[David Paternostro, · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, my mind was absolutely blown by Ratzinger’s brilliant yet personal style. Ratzinger is writing on fundamental theology, a branch of theology that asks what it means for God to reveal Himself to us—what is revelation, how does revelation occur, how do humans respond to and think about revelation? Ratzinger’s main concern is the reduction of Christian theology (and Christian faith in general) to abstract formulas and statements. Everything in Ratzinger’s text establishes the personal relationship between God and humans as the primary locus of revelation—we come to know God through personal relationship, and everything flows from there. It was incredible to see how things like the Incarnation, Scripture, and the sacraments emerge from and then contribute to this relationship. A central idea of Ratzinger’s is that everything is changed when we see God’s desire for a relationship with us, and I will certainly be spending a large part of this year thinking through Ratzinger’s words and the relationship he describes.

[Alan · Rating 1 out of 5]

See:
Bro. Peter Dimond, O.S.B.'s analysis of the heresies in this book
and
Bp. Tissier's Faith Imperiled by Reason: Benedict XVI's Hermeneutics

[Jacob Lehmann]

Especially intriguing is Joseph Ratzinger's theological anthropology - it is human nature to create and maintain histories and traditions.