Glossary

Citation

Schoberth, Wolfgang. "»Theology today« Von der Möglichkeit und Wirklichkeit vernünftiger Gottesrede heute." Evangelische Theologie 85, no. 4 (2025): 244–258.

Entries

communicative reason (kommunikative Vernunft) — noun

• Senses:
  1. communicative reason; Field/Domain: critical_theory, public_theology
• Evidence: "Offenkundig stehen diese Überlegungen in der Nähe zum Konzept kommunikativer Vernunft, wie es vor allem von Jürgen Habermas entfaltet wurde." (p. 250)
• Collocations/Discourse Function: Appears alongside Jürgen Habermas and is presented as an alternative to Kantian 'abstract reason.' It functions as the philosophical foundation that enables theology to assert its own rationality in the public sphere.
• Intertext(s): Citation — Source: philosophical (Jürgen Habermas, Theorie des kommunikativen Handelns)
• Translation Policy: As this is a core philosophical term from Habermas, it will be consistently translated with the academic standard 'communicative reason.' Variations such as 'communicative rationality' will be avoided.
• Risk/Ethics Note: When applying this concept to theology, care must be taken to avoid the misunderstanding that transcendent dimensions of faith, such as 'revelation' or 'mystery,' can be entirely reduced to a framework of communicable rationality.

heuristic of trust (Heuristik des Vertrauens) — noun phrase

• Senses:
  1. heuristic of trust; Field/Domain: hermeneutics, theological_method
• Evidence: "Methodisch wäre darum für eine »Heuristik des Vertrauens« zu optieren, die das in der theologischen Tradition Entfaltete respektvoll sichtet..." (p. 257)
• Collocations/Discourse Function: Used in conjunction with theological 'Tradition' (Tradition) and is presented in the latter part of the paper as the author's core proposed theological methodology.
• Intertext(s): Strong allusion — Source: philosophical (Paul Ricœur, 'hermeneutics of trust')
• Translation Policy: 'Heuristik' is best rendered as 'heuristic,' a standard term in English. 'Vertrauen' is translated as 'trust,' maintaining a connection to, yet distinction from, Ricœur's 'hermeneutics of faith.'
• Risk/Ethics Note: The word 'trust' carries the risk of being misinterpreted as an uncritical acceptance of tradition or 'traditionalism.' It must be clarified that this methodology refers to a critical trust that comes after passing through the modern 'hermeneutics of suspicion.'

post-metaphysical thinking (nachmetaphysisches Denken) — noun phrase

• Senses:
  1. post-metaphysical thinking; Field/Domain: philosophy, systematic_theology
• Evidence: "Eine in dem hier vorgestellten Sinn ›nichtmetaphysische‹ Theologie bedeutet also auch keinen Bruch mit der metaphysischen Tradition..." (p. 257)
• Collocations/Discourse Function: Defined in relation to the 'metaphysical tradition' (metaphysische Tradition). The author establishes his position by reinterpreting it not as a 'rupture' (Bruch) with tradition but as a 're-thinking' (Durchdenken).
• Intertext(s): Citation — Source: philosophical (Jürgen Habermas, Nachmetaphysisches Denken)
• Translation Policy: The academic standard 'post-metaphysical thinking' will be used. Variations like 'post-metaphysical thought' are acceptable, but 'late-metaphysical' should be avoided.
• Risk/Ethics Note: This term could be misconstrued as theology completely abandoning traditional topics like 'transcendence' or 'substance.' It should be clarified that the author's intent is 'reconstruction,' not abandonment.

religious needs (religiöse Bedürfnisse) — noun phrase

• Senses:
  1. religious needs; Field/Domain: sociology_of_religion, practical_theology
• Evidence: "...durch die Ausrichtung an dem, was man für die ›religiösen Bedürfnisse‹ der Menschen in der Gegenwart hält..." (p. 245)
• Collocations/Discourse Function: Appears in conjunction with the 'market-oriented' tendency in modern theology and church that the author critiques. It is portrayed with negative connotations as a 'function' (Funktion) that supplants the essence of faith.
• Variant–Interpretive Fork: If 'needs' is interpreted as 'market demand,' the author's critique is valid. However, if it is interpreted as 'existential longing,' the validity of the critique is weakened, creating an interpretive fork.
• Intertext(s): Critical echo — Source: philosophical (critiques of religion by figures like Ludwig Feuerbach, Sigmund Freud)
• Translation Policy: 'Bedürfnisse' can be translated as 'needs' or 'desires.' Given the context of market logic, the more neutral 'needs' will be used, but its critical nuance should be explained in analysis.
• Risk/Ethics Note: A blanket critique of this concept risks devaluing the existential suffering of individuals who seek comfort and answers in faith amid real difficulties. A delicate distinction between 'marketized needs' and 'existential needs' is required.