General Trends in the Development of Western Christian Theology of the Postmodern Era

Abstract

The aim of the article is to identify strategies for the development of modern Western Christian theology, which is to find a way out of the crisis of the Christian worldview. Research Methodology. The article is based on a synthetic methodology that combines culturological, philosophical and historical methodology. The current state of the Western Christian theology reflects the general tendencies of the development of Christian religion and the spiritual sphere in general, therefore, it is advisable to use the humanitarian methodology in the study of theology. Results. The study demonstrated the development of Western Christian theology in the twentieth century. Theology is not just a special science; it reflects the general tendencies of the development of the spiritual sphere of a certain period of development of the mankind. The author provides evidence for the issue of demythologization of Christianity and, as a consequence, the issue of harmonizing relations between religion and modern science. The author of the idea of demythologization R. Bultman came from the dialectical theology, insisting on the elimination of various metaphysical systems from Christianity and the return to the simple (existential) faith. R. Bultman showed that it was the faith of the first Christians that led to the development of the mythological component in Christianity and that for the faith it was necessary to get rid of numerous Christian myths. Theologians–adherents of modern science propose not to refuse the idea of the evolution of nature, but to understand the creation of the world of God as an evolutionary process that continues to this day. An important trend in the development of modern theology is its secularization, which consists in identifying opportunities for the coexistence of secular society and culture and Christianity, and overcoming the contradictions between them. The secularization of theology also means the study of theologians not only of the problems of the divine sphere, but also of purely secular problems that arise in the process of the real life of people. A significant trend in the development of theology is also its ecumenical movement, which is to seek the ways of cooperation between religions and confessions of the contemporary world. Such tendencies in the development of theology will continue to develop alongside conservative tendencies that may be marginalized. Novelty of the study is to summarize the development trends in the modern Western-Christian theology and to identify the significance of theological projects in the process of overcoming the general crisis of Christianity. The practical significance. The material of the article can be used in teaching the courses on the history of Christianity and the history of theology.