Bullivant to Dispel the Myth of Rahnerian "Exceptionalism"

Professor Stephen Bullivant (Christ Church, Oxford) will dispel "the myth of Rahnerian exceptionalism" during the Consultation on Karl Rahner which will take place during the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America, June 4-7, 2009 at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront in Nova Scotia. 

Bullivant's paper is entitled The Myth of Rahnerian Exceptionalism: Edward Schillebeeckx's 'Anonymous Christians.'"  It will argue that Rahner was not alone in his endorsement of "anonymous Christianity," i.e., the imputation of an implicit faith to justified non-Christians.

Although Schillebeeckx eventually disowned the phrase (Bullivant will argue) he never retreated from his concern about the salvation of non-Christians.  Indeed, he was among the first to use the term "anonymous Christian," and may have abandoned it only after it was criticized by Hans Urs von Balthasar and by Josef Ratzinger.

In addition, the CTSA will host a "Rahner Breakfast" on Saturday, June 6, from 7:15 to 8:45 AM.  This year's breakfast will feature Melvin Michalski and Andreas Batlogg who will introduce the English language translation of their book "Begegnungen mit Karl Rahner."

For a list of past Rahner papers, published in the journal Philosophy and Theology, click here.