1. An Existential Disjunctive - to live as if
Christian faith, as an existential orientation/interpretive stance (Christology/Pneumatology),
has normative implications. Beyond our practical and moral norms with their extrinsic
rewards, it introduces a new category of norms, the unitive, which are intrinsically
rewarding. These unitive norms provide suitable means for moral ends but their aim
transcends our practical and moral concerns.
As an interpretive stance, Christian faith fosters our imaginative participation in an intimate
relationship with the Trinity thus orienting our historical perspective eschatologically,
sanctifying our cultural aspirations theologically, empowering our societal institutions
ecclesiologically, healing our economic orders sacramentally and saving our political
endeavors soteriologically. And what singular reality orients, sanctifies, empowers, heals
and saves? Love. Love transforms our ultimate concerns. The norms of Christian love foster
our realization of solidarity with all of reality.
As an interpretive stance, Christian faith fosters our imaginative participation in an intimate
relationship with the Trinity thus orienting our historical perspective eschatologically,
sanctifying our cultural aspirations theologically, empowering our societal institutions
ecclesiologically, healing our economic orders sacramentally and saving our political
endeavors soteriologically. And what singular reality orients, sanctifies, empowers, heals
and saves? Love. Love transforms our ultimate concerns. The norms of Christian love foster
our realization of solidarity with all of reality.
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