Emerging Principles of a Theology of Shalom

Now that more than five decades have passed since Nostra Aetate initiated a new relationship between Jews and Catholics, it has become possible to identify certain basic principles—predicated on an appreciation of ongoing Jewish covenantal life—that are emerging in Catholic ecclesial statements. Suc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inHorizons (Villanova) Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 281 - 305
Main Author Cunningham, Philip A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.12.2017
Subjects
Christianity
Judaism
Religion
Theology
Israel
Nostra Aetate
covenant
Christian-Jewish relations
Catholic-Jewish relations
theology of shalom
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Summary:Now that more than five decades have passed since Nostra Aetate initiated a new relationship between Jews and Catholics, it has become possible to identify certain basic principles—predicated on an appreciation of ongoing Jewish covenantal life—that are emerging in Catholic ecclesial statements. Such a “theology of shalom” seeks “right relationship” with the Jewish people and “wholeness” in terms of the church's own self-understanding. The article proposes three fundamental axioms. A theology of shalom (1) sees Jews and Christians as co-covenanting companions; (2) respects and reckons with Jewish self-understanding; and (3) focuses on final fulfillment in the future. It elaborates three subpoints for each principle to elucidate several implications and questions. The article concludes with the suggestion that the maturing Catholic-Jewish relationship may be moving into one of mutuality in which both communities can study and learn from their respective covenantal ways of walking with God.
ISSN:0360-9669
2050-8557
DOI:10.1017/hor.2017.62