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[German Version] from Greek εὐδαίμων/ eudaímōn, “happy.” Although the term sometimes occurs in the works of Aristotle (e.g. …

[German Version] I. History of the Concept – II. Current State of the Problem “Autonomy” (Gk αὐτονομία) refers to self-regulation, self-determination, self-normativity. Autonomy can designate the political independence of states, the self-dependence of individuals, or the internal authority of institutions. The theological problem concerns the relationship of the modern concept of autonomy to the human relationship with God. I. History of the Concept Αὐτόνομος/ autónomos in Herodotus means: “To …

[German Version] I. Theology The use of pleasure or enjoyment in a theological context began with Augustine of Hippo, who defined it as “amore alicui rei inhaerere propter seipsam” ( Doctr. chr. I 4.4; PL col. 20). The “res” is solely God, the highest good. The ethically telic uti (“use”) is subordinated to frui (“enjoyment”). Scholasticism followed Augustine but connected frui with the ultimus finis of hu…

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[German Version] I. Philosophy – II. Dogmatics and Ethics I. Philosophy The concept of “acknowledgment” (German: Anerkennung) has always played an essential role in practical philosophy. Thus, in ancient ethics the conviction prevailed that a good life could be led only by those persons whose behavior could find social esteem in the …

[German Version] I. History – II. Systematics – III. Glaubenslehre (Doctrine of the Faith) I. History The term “dogmatics,” first used in the 17th century, refers to one of the oldest branches of theological endeavor: a coherent account of the content of the Christian proclamation, which in turn takes its orientation from the standard (“canonical”) paradigms of confession and proclamation. Other terms – “An exact exposition of the orthodox faith” (John of Damascus), “Sentences” (Peter Lombard), …

[German Version] I. Life – II. Church Historian – III. Systematic Theologian Jul 6, 1912, Berlin-Steglitz – Sep 30, 2001, Zollikerberg/Zürich), Protestant German theologian. I. Life Ebeling began his theological studies in 1930; after studying at Marburg, Berlin, and Zürich, he passed his first theological examination for the examination office of the Confessing Church in Berlin. He prepared for pastoral ministry under mentors that included D. Bonhoeffer and …

[German Version] I. Dogmatics – II. Ethics I. Dogmatics In Protestant dogmatics, the debate on the term “heteronomy” (etymology, see II below) is characterized by the fact that “heteronomy” is not only defined as the opposite of “autonomy” but also of “theonomy” (cf. also Graf). P. Tillich regards heteronomy and auton-…

[German Version] I. History of Religion – II. Jewish and Christian Antiquity – III. Middle Ages to Modern Times I. History of Religion Hypocrisy as a deliberate feigning of non-existent situations is a special case of concealment. F. Bacon made a distinction between a morally necessary silence and a passive secretiveness, and between both of these and active hypocrisy or pretence. As a sociologist, G. Simmel regarded non-disclosure as a necessary means for enabling social relationships. Here, social …

[German Version] I. Religion – II. Philosophy – III. History of Theology and Dogmatics – IV. Ethics I. Religion Talk of happiness refers to a deeper level of experience than enjoying oneself or feeling good. Happiness denotes success in life; the pursuit of happiness is a universal element in human life and thought. The hope of happiness may take ritual forms, especially in connection with rites of passage when a change of social position and status makes life uncertain, for instance at birth and weddings. The…

[German Version] I. History of Literature (Early Church) – II. Philosophy of Religion – III. Fundamental Theology – IV. Dogmatics – V. Ethics – VI. Ecumenism – VII. Dialogue and Mission I. History of Literature (Early Church) Dialogue, as a philosophical disputation with the objective of vanquishing the opponent at all costs, originated with the Sophists (Sophistic School); as a literary form, Plato's philosophical dialogues became a model for posterity. Characteristic here are the intention to free from false opinions…