Sumbangan Paul Ricoeur dalam Proses Berteologi

Abstract

In understanding the theologizing process, the foci are not only on the reality, but also on the means or tools to understand the reality. This article intends to explain the means or tools of theologizing process according to Paul Ricoeur. As a process what at stake is not only the method, but also the methodology, namely the thinking process, the interest of the subject and the premises on certain values. The guiding question is what is Ricoeur’s theologizing methodology, i.e. his hermeneutics? Through dialogue with many parties, Ricoeur found the methodology of reading reality is started with an affi rmation and ended with a critic toward the distortion of reality; this is an affirmative-critical position. However, this methodology is inadequate to comprehend an extremely distorted reality. Hence, the present article offers a reversal move of theologizing process, by prioritizing the critical position toward the distorted reality and following up with the affirmation process by uncovering the element of hope of a good and just life. Ultimately, the theologizing process requires a dialectical methodology of reading the reality, between the critical-affirmative and affirmative-critical positions. The priority of the option is determined by the contextual challenges at hand.

Keywords

• methodology
• the emancipatory hermeneutics
• dialogue partners
• dialectical
• critical-affi rmative
• affi rmative-critical
• critical-affirmative
• affirmative-critical