Paradigm Shifts in Christianity

Jesus Christ(died c. 30)

PeterJames

Paul

Patristic period:Origen

AthanasiusCappadocians

Scholasticism:Thomas

Bonaventure

Reformation:Luther/ErasmusZwingli-Calvin

Cranmer

Enlightenmentand Idealism:

Schleiermacherliberal theology

Harnack

AugustineLeo I

Gregory I

P VI

P V

Enlightenmentmodern paradigm

P IV

ReformationProtestant paradigm

P III

Mediaeval Roman Catholic paradigm

P II

Early churchHellenistic paradigm

P I

Early Christianapocalyptic paradigm

Roman empire – Hellenistic culture

Roman Popes – German Emperors

Renaissance - reform councils

Modern philosophy,natural sciences, theory of the state

Industrialization, democratization

Orthodoxtradition-

alism

RomanCatholic

authoritar-ianism

Protestantfundamen-

talism

Liberalmodernism

1st century:Jewish Christia-nity in Jerusa-lem, Palestine, Mesopotamia ...

7th century: Islam?

19th century: 'History – Progress'Nationalism, Industrial Revolution,Liberalism and Socialism

20th century:First and Second World WarsPolycentric worldWorld Council of ChurchesPostcolonial-postimperialist period

The abiding substance of faith:The message: 'Jesus the Christ.'The decisive event of revelation: the turning point in the history of Israel as a result of the coming of Jesus of Nazareth.The destinctively Christian element: Jesus as God's Messiah and Son.

The shifting paradigm (=P: macromodel of society, religion, theology):'An entire constellation of beliefs, values, techniques, and so on shared by the members of a given community' (Thomas S. Khun).

© Hans Küng – Stephan Schlensog

1st/2nd centuries: 'Paradosis – Patres'GnosticismEarly Catholicism, persecutionsGreek and Latin church fathers

11th century: 'Ecclesia – Papa'Gregorian reformMediaeval PopesCrusadesInquisition

15th century:Council of ConstanceRenaissance Popes

4th/5th centuries:Shift under ConstantineEcumenical Councils

17th/18th centuries: 'Raison – Reason'Scientific and philosophical revolutionCultural revolution of the EnlightenmentAmerican and French RevolutionsHuman rights

Mani

East-West schism

Vatican II

Vatican I

Split in the Western church

Counter-reform. parad. Prot. orth. parad.

Anglicanism

16th century: 'Word of God Inerrancy'ReformationCouncil of TrentLuther and Reformation orthodoxyWars of religion and baroque culturePietism

Contemporaryecumenical paradigm

(postmodern)?