Hope

Following an outline of the history of the term, this article presents a definition of Christian spirituality as the human response to God’s call. It describes the various forms of this response, whose foundation is the double commandment of love, and the many ways in which spirituality can be lived out in everyday life. Regularity, community, spiritual guidance, and discernment of spirits are identified as requirements for a sustainable spiritual practice in everyday life. Certain problems are then singled out, including the need to choose one’s own form of spirituality within the complex context of late modernity and the ambiguity of the concept of experience. Finally, spirituality is framed as a basis for ecumenical community.

Dalit theology is the Indian contextual and liberation theology from the perspective of Dalits in India. It addresses the pain and pathos of the Dalit communities in India and rereads the Bible as a liberating resource in the struggle against the oppressive caste system.

• Systematic Theology

Ecumenical dialogue has undergone a complex and multifaceted development, shaped by historical, social, and political events and developments, as well as theological debates and institutional efforts. The scope and objectives of ecumenical dialogue are multifaceted and concern theological, spiritual, practical, and ethical aspects. This article focusses on an Orthodox perspective on ecumenical dialogue.

• Ecclesiology

“Heaven” is a concept that both remains deeply rooted in culture and contemporary, everyday life and is a relevant term in (Judeo-Christian) tradition and theology. The diverse approaches of theology (and its history) as well as the supposed self-evident nature of the topic lead to a plurality of understandings and conceptions of heaven. In order to handle the topic of “heaven” in a responsible manner and with precision in the field of (systematic) theology, it is necessary to reaffirm what “heaven” does (and does not) mean.

• Eschatology