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The Art of Listening to the Past : Reflections on Theological History Writing

Svenungsson, Jayne LU orcid (2020) In Patristica Nordica Annuaria p.29-43
Abstract
This essay ponders the ethos and premises of history writing with particular regard to the discipline of Systematic Theology. Taking inspiration from Hans Ruin’s recent phenomenological study Being with the Dead, the first part reflects on the otherness of historical subjects. More specifically, it raises the question of how we, as modern scholars, relate to and represent historical thinkers and their ideas in a truthful way, that is, without either mystifying them or appropriating them for specific theological aims. The second part of the essay is concerned with our own subjectivity and how it is affected by our “being with the dead”, including our dead intellectual peers. Focus is here placed on the moral respon- sibility that is... (More)
This essay ponders the ethos and premises of history writing with particular regard to the discipline of Systematic Theology. Taking inspiration from Hans Ruin’s recent phenomenological study Being with the Dead, the first part reflects on the otherness of historical subjects. More specifically, it raises the question of how we, as modern scholars, relate to and represent historical thinkers and their ideas in a truthful way, that is, without either mystifying them or appropriating them for specific theological aims. The second part of the essay is concerned with our own subjectivity and how it is affected by our “being with the dead”, including our dead intellectual peers. Focus is here placed on the moral respon- sibility that is attached to history writing, especially in a time when efforts are continuously being made to exploit memories of a common Christian past for various ideological purposes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Systematic Theology, history writing, Hans Ruin,, Rowan Williams, otherness of historical subjects, moral responsibility
in
Patristica Nordica Annuaria
issue
35
pages
29 - 43
publisher
Collegium Patristicum Lundense
ISSN
2001-2365
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
22937131-4110-4f7a-8e5d-fca004db58dd
date added to LUP
2021-01-24 14:13:14
date last changed
2021-03-02 09:03:02
@article{22937131-4110-4f7a-8e5d-fca004db58dd,
  abstract     = {{This essay ponders the ethos and premises of history writing with particular regard to the discipline of Systematic Theology. Taking inspiration from Hans Ruin’s recent phenomenological study Being with the Dead, the first part reflects on the otherness of historical subjects. More specifically, it raises the question of how we, as modern scholars, relate to and represent historical thinkers and their ideas in a truthful way, that is, without either mystifying them or appropriating them for specific theological aims. The second part of the essay is concerned with our own subjectivity and how it is affected by our “being with the dead”, including our dead intellectual peers. Focus is here placed on the moral respon- sibility that is attached to history writing, especially in a time when efforts are continuously being made to exploit memories of a common Christian past for various ideological purposes.}},
  author       = {{Svenungsson, Jayne}},
  issn         = {{2001-2365}},
  keywords     = {{Systematic Theology; history writing; Hans Ruin,; Rowan Williams; otherness of historical subjects; moral responsibility}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{35}},
  pages        = {{29--43}},
  publisher    = {{Collegium Patristicum Lundense}},
  series       = {{Patristica Nordica Annuaria}},
  title        = {{The Art of Listening to the Past : Reflections on Theological History Writing}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/94465365/PNA21.pdf}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}