Topic > Karl Rahner and the foundations of the Christian faith

Being the fourth of seven children it can sometimes be difficult to stand out, but this was not a problem for Karl Rahner. Rahner has made his mark on the world and is now considered one of the most influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century (McGrath 128). His thoughts were inspired by several well-known theologians such as; St. Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, St. Augustine, and Ignatius Loyola to name a few. Karl Rahner wrote more than three thousand works, so it is difficult to say which was his best work, but Foundations of the Christian Faith, written later in his life, is said to be "the most developed and systematic of his works". Rahner's theology is not simple, there are many aspects that need to be studied and it requires intense reflection. To understand Karl Rahner's theology it is necessary to study his background. As a modernist and Catholic theologian Karl Rahner combines his studies of philosophy and theology into one. Through his theology Rahner is also well known for his influence on the Second Vatican Council, which helped develop the understanding we have of Catholicism today. Before we can talk about his theology it is necessary to understand the life of Karl Rahner. Rahner was born on March 5, 1904 and raised in Freiburg, Germany. His parents' names were Karl and Luise. Karl Rahner explains his childhood as if it were normal. He grew up in a middle-class Christian family with six other brothers and sisters. He knew that his family would never become very rich, but such things did not worry Karl. As I mentioned before, Karl was the fourth of seven children. All seven children attended college and graduated. All his brothers continued to have...... middle of paper ......goddess of new culture and tradition. With the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church was being reborn. Vatican II is very important when it comes to learning about the history of the Catholic Church and will be remembered forever. Karl Rahner's life was dedicated to his writings and teachings. From a young age he knew his vocation to religion and until his death in 1984 he did not stop doing what he loved. Due to his dedication to work and the many years spent in study, he was able to draw inspiration from various philosophers and theologians. Bringing together the knowledge of both these fields we have the modernist philosopher and the Catholic theologian Karl Rahner. His philosophical influence changed the Catholic Church of the 20th century and continues to have an influence on modern Christian thought.