Abstract

Stefan Hartmann:
Romano Guardini as a »Guardian« of Theology
(FKTh 2018-3, p. 214–226)

Romano Guardini (1885–1968) is not recognized as a theological expert. His main topics were religious philosophy, liturgy and educational companion of the youth (Quickborn-movement, Burg Rothenfels). In early times of his mental searching for the theological truth he took distance to the proceedings of Immanuel Kant and current modernism. The dogma of faith does not serve to the «life of man”, it expresses the truth of God, who calls man and gives him his mission. Without the focus on church and revelation there cannot be a real theology. The sense of christianity is «The Lord” – title of his main book in 1937. In a time with increasing anthropocentric theology, Guardini proposes a «theological theology”, that does not diminish the witness of the Bible by historical criticism. Neomodernistic thinking of autonomy has in him his catholic observer. Theology without faith, church and prayer abolishes itself. A «renaissance” of Romano Guardinis clear thinking could be helpful under many aspects.