The spirit of the Reformation 500 years on : proceedings of the Malta International Theological Conference, vol. II

Abstract

The commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation has gone down in history as one of the most important achievements in the ecumenical movement and in the life of the Church at large. A question that remains fundamental up till our very day is the following: “Does Martin Luther’s lived theology have anything to say to us today?” For this reason, academics and ecumenists from a number of distinguished European Universities as well as from the University of Malta came together to interpret anew the theological gifts received through the Lutheran Reformation in their appropriate historical and ecclesial context. The conference proceedings are divided in three parts: the exploration of the historical context, the major theological issues within that context, and an appraisal of the spirit of the reformation today. This endeavour revealed significant insights: a commitment to narrate the story in a different way, a celebration of the return to the sources of the Christian faith that has actually produced a process of regeneration of the faith both for Lutherans and for Catholics, and a mutual recognition can never be underestimated. Whatever its impact on history, the Reformation remains meaningful, first and foremost as a spiritual event focusing on the relationship of the self with God, as an opportunity to bring out the riches in both traditions, as well as a reminder that dialogue opens up fresh avenues of thought.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Beate Bengard, John Anthony Berry (editor), Charlo Camilleri, Rene Camilleri, Pauline Dimech, Damian Dorocki, Dominic Fenech, Ute Gause, George Grima, Oleh Kindiy, Anne Kull, Piotr Roszak, Hector Scerri and Paul Sciberras.