Emmanuel Lévinas. Praise of atheism

Jan Słomka

doi:10.18778/1505-9057.59.08

Authors

Jan Słomka Prof. dr hab., University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Theology, Bankowa 12, 40-007 Katowice https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1404-5109

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1505-9057.59.08

Keywords:

Lévinas, atheism, Augustine, Rahner, Tertullian

Abstract

Lévinas presents atheism as the original good condition of the soul before acknowledging or rejecting God. Such description is closely linked to the notion of separation. Man is a created being, but a separated one, self-contained, though not absolute. Even if not causa sui, he may exist on his own. The description is radically different from that by Augustine, who refers to creation as the participation of man in God. Similarly, there is an almost literal contradiction between the statement by Lévinas and the words of Tertullian, claiming that the soul is Christian by nature. A comparison of Levinas’ text with the theology of Karl Rahner also points to significant differences. Rahner presents the awareness of God as a transcendental, unthematic experience. Lévinas also states that the awareness of God is unthematic, however, he does not share Rahner’s description of the experience of God as the primary transcendental experience. According to Lévinas, God comes from outside through the face of the Other. Levinas’ analyses seem highly interesting for fundamental theology and the theology of spirituality.

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Author Biography

Jan Słomka, Prof. dr hab., University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Theology, Bankowa 12, 40-007 Katowice

Jan Słomka – Professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Theology, Institute of Theology. Lecturer of patrology in Higher Theological Seminary in Lodz. In his research, he focuses on patrology, spirituality, philosophy of Levinas as a handmaid of theology, theology of Pope Francis. He published texts in journals such as “Vox Patrum”, “Śląskie Studia Historyczno-Teologiczne”, “Biblica et Patristica Thoruniensia”, “Ecumeny and Law”, “Łódzkie Studia Teologiczne” and “Studia Pastoralne”. He published scientific monographs: Pokarm i ofiara. Refleksja eucharystyczna wczesnych Ojców greckich, Archidiecezjalne Wydawnictwo Łódzkie, Łódź 2000; Nowe proroctwo. Historia i doktryna montanizmu, Księgarnia św. Jacka, Katowice 2007; Wczesnochrześcijańskie nazwy chrztu, Wydawnictwo UŚ, Katowice 2009; Historia duchowości. Czas ojców Kościoła, Wydawnictwo UŚ, Katowice 2017; Wprowadzenie do teologii katolickiej, Wydawnictwo UŚ, Katowice 2017.

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