A Theology for Artisans of a New Humanity Volume 5: 05

A THEOLOGY FOR ARTISANS OF A NEW HUMANITY Volume 1 The Community Called Church Volume 2 Grace and the Human Condition Volume 3 Our Idea of God Volume 4 The Sacraments Today Volume 5 Evolution and Guilt For many generations Christians have considered sin almost exclusively in terms of the individual person: my sins and your sins. These sins moreover have been thought to have their roots in our fallen human nature the consequence of original sin. Recently however the bishops and theologians of Latin America have begun to speak of sinful structures sinful institutions and even sinful societies. These terms sound rather strange to North American ears but an understanding of them is vital if Christians here are to live up to their calling to be both prophetic and creative agents for change within their communities-global as well as national. These communities are scarred by sinful structures and sinful institutions if we but had the eyes to see them as they are. For the love taught and lived by Christ has a creative obligation in Segundos phrase: the obligation to move evolution forward into ever more truly human forms and structures. I have come to give life and that more abundantly. Segundos reflections on the nature and meaning of that life make Evolution and Guilt a signal contribution to pastoral as well as political theology. It is paramount however a breakthrough in Christian moral theology speaking to the major issues of our times. I do not know of a finer attempt to do justice to both the particularity of Christianity and the universality of Gods saving work. These volumes come out of post-Vatican II Roman Catholic reflection and the emphasis on fresh and contemporary biblical interpretation enables them to go far in transcending the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. The fact that they come out of Latin American Catholicism and that they reflect the Latin American struggle for social justice adds to their significance. John C. Bennett Former President Union Theological Seminary Latin America is emerging as the prime font of a theology that is creative enough to speak to the revolutionary needs of modern people. The work of Juan Luis Segundo and his collaborators exemplifies this. They have produced a theology at once traditional and revolutionary and in their hands old categories take on new and exciting life. Their work should be read by anyone who wants to know if Christian theology has a contribution to make to the social and political as well as personal evolution of man. Daniel Maguire Professor of Theology Marquette University Juan Luis Segundo (1925-1996) completed his theological studies at Louvain and received his Doctorate of Letters from the Sorbonne. Before his death in 1996 he was chaplain to various groups in his native Uruguay. He has taught theology at the Universities of Harvard Chicago Toronto Montreal Birmingham and Sao Paulo. His previous works include The Liberation of Theology Liberation of Dogma and The Sacraments Today.