After the First World War, the Catholic Church intensified its interest in a world that was becoming ever more secular and began to look for new means of actively and creatively taking part in cultural affairs. Cinematography was one of the areas in which this trend became most apparent. It was shortly after the invention of cinematograph that various ideas and plans regarding how to deal with film began to emerge among Catholics. Consequently, the Pope gave his blessing to community-based initiatives and included them in his plan in the encyclical Vigilanti Cura. This study seeks to familiarise the reader with a multifarious mixture of interesting, and often contradictory, voices and opinions that were heard from Czech Catholics with regard to film. Catholic activities in the field of film are divided into three basic areas: production, classification and distribution, with the first area concerning the effort to make their own Catholic films. This study demonstrates the problems faced in this endeavour by presenting the difficulties in the making of the film Saint Wenceslas and the consequent relationship of Catholics to the completed work. The classification of films from the Catholic point of view was carried out systematically and in a coordinated manner. The study deals with the origins of...

De ses antiques origines à son actualité postmoderne du XXIe siècle, le christianisme est traversé par deux phénomènes, en tensions variables et complexes, d’empathie et de vigilance à l’égard de la raison et de la science : ici des vigilances critiques l’emportent sur la considération pour la légitime autonomie de la raison et de la science, là un respect théologal et éthique tend à présider dans l’économie de différentes formes et phases d’estimes critiques pour l’autonomie de la raison et de la science. Sciences affranchies des théologies, sciences excellant en performances du savoir et de techniques, mais sciences modernes et contemporaines non épargnées par les errances du naturalisme, du nominalisme, du scientisme, des positivismes réducteurs, ou de politisations idéologiques.Malgré un conflit, loin d’être résolu, concernant la querelle antimoderniste, les conciles généraux Vatican I (1869-1870 : Constitution Dei Filius, chapitre IV) et Vatican II (1962-1965 : Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 36) font date : l’un rappelle la légitimité des domaines propres à la raison et aux scientificités, l’autre bénéficie de la progression en théologie de l’historicité pour contempler la tradition de l’autonomie des réalités terrestres. Avec quels instruments d’abord canoniques, est conjuguée la mission d’Église de sauvegarde du caractère catholique romain de ses propres universités, par exemple, et sa protection – certes conditionnelle - des cultures, des sciences, des scientifiques ? / From its earliest beginnings down to current postmodern XXIst century, Christianity is struck a balance between two phenomena, holding one another in various and complex mounting tensions, of empathy and of awareness towards reason and science. Herein, critical appraisals override the consideration of legitimate autonomy of reason and science, therein, a religious and ethical respect tends to govern various forms and shades of critical esteem, in favour of the autonomy of reason and science. Sciences freed from theologies monopoly, sciences excelling in knowledge and technical performances, but there still remains however, modern and contemporary sciences with misconducts of naturalism, nominalism, narrow positivism or political ideologies.Irrespective of an unresolved conflict, arising from the anti-modernist fights, the Church’s general councils of Vatican I (1869-1870: Constitution Dei Filius, chapter IV) and Vatican II (1962-1965: Constitution Gaudium et spes, 36) made huge steps forward : As the first reminds us of the legitimacy of science and reason in their specific areas of expertise, the second, while taking into account the progress of the theology of history, reflects deeper on the autonomy of worldly realities. With this background, with what canonical tools, could the safeguarding mission of the Roman Catholic character of the Church’s universities, for example, and her protection of cultures, sciences and the world of scientists, - under the conditions - could be guaranteed ?

There is a great diversity of initiatives furthering unity among christians. Probably the most important ones are those of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Roman Catholic Church as such and the Lausanne Movement of the Evangelicals. The "Runde Tisch" (=Round Table) brings together Austrian christians from all parts of the christian scenario as a new initiative towards unity. To find out, which of these initiatives is the most efficient, from a mission-strategical standpoint, this thesis develops the New Testament findings on the question of unity. Then, the 4 models are presented to finally be compared, to find out, where each one has its strengths and weaknesses. The Round Table Austria with its great width of christians involved, its theological profoundness and its leadership structure with proportional engagement of members from all present parts of the christian body is indeed quite close to the New Testament picture of unity. / Initiativen, die die Einheit unter Christen fördern gibt es sehr viele. Mit zu den wichtigsten zählen die des Weltkirchenrates (WCC), die Römisch-katholische Kirche als solche und die Lausanner Bewegung der Evangelikalen. Der Runde Tisch bringt in Österreich Christen aus allen Richtungen der Christenheit in eine neue Einheitsinitiative zusammen. Um nun herauszufinden, welche dieser Initiativen missionsstrategisch effizient ist, entfaltet diese Arbeit zunächst den neutestamentlichen Befund zur Frage der Einheit unter Christen. Dann werden die vier Modelle dargestellt und abschließend mit dem Ziel verglichen, herauszuarbeiten, wo die Stärken und Schwächen eines jeden Ansatzes liegen. Hierbei dient als Maßstab der Befund der neutestamentlichen Analyse. Der Runde Tisch Österreich liegt mit seinem breiten Spektrum an vertretenen Christen, seiner theologischen Tiefe und richtungsparitätischen Leitungsstruktur sehr nahe bei den neutestamentlichen Vorgaben zur Einheit unter Christen. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

In this investigation key elements of the mysticism of Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906) are compared and contrasted with the mysticism of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and as a result, the true nature of the relationship between their respective mysticism is elucidated. Key doctrines which exhibit a remarkable consonance are: the trinitarian foundation of their mysticism, the indwelling of the Trinity in the human soul, asceticism, desert spirituality, sacrificial love, liturgical spirituality, scriptural spirituality, deification and the doxological nature of their mysticism. Elements of divergence exist within the following: election and predestination, apophatic versus cataphatic mysticism, the Roman Catholic dogma of the immaculate conception of the virgin Mary, and the mode of God's presence in the human soul. Elizabeth's relevance for today is also considered, namely, her ecclesial mission which she now continues in heaven: to intercede for people seeking union with God and to draw people to interior recollection. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th.

There is dissatisfaction with the Collects when scholastically (classically) understood. An alternative phenomenological understanding is an engaging and artistic philosophical enquiry. Phenomenological philosophical enquiry engages the individual in meaningful interpretation and construction of the life-world founded on a non-dichotomous ontology. Phenomenological enquiry (existential philosophy) interprets the present and relates to the future such as is not possible in scholastic (classical) philosophy. The early twentieth century philosophers, Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, conceived a phenomenological method of interpretation which innovatively placed the subject and object in a dialectical union. Understanding the Collects phenomenologically presents new insights susceptible to consensus within a community. At present, the Collects are structured on the principles of classical (dichotomous) ontology. The Collects reflect the collective religious meaning of the life-world and provide a vision upon which a community may build. In phenomenological interpretation an individual and a community, in the presence of that which is divine, participate as co-creators of the life-world. Thus, in contemporary western society phenomenological methodology ~ay be more helpful and therefore more desirable than scholastic methodology for theological interpretation. The hypothesis that phenomenological philosophy is more helpful, thus more desirable, than scholastic philosopl1y began as a hunch on my part. From a theological perspective, I examined data obtained from a particular focus group. Intelligent reflection, phenomenologically not classically understood, is a working principle in this thesis. / Taking into account phenomenological methodology and conceptualising the problem as originally and scientifically as circumstances permit, I offer a resolution to the dissatisfaction with the Collects. I suggest replacing scholastic ontological understanding with the more helpful phenomenological ontological understanding in liturgical interpretation. This replacement-solution hypothesis is evidenced in this study minimally, but sufficiently, to conclude that such replacement is occurring in theological understanding. There are clear existential intimations of a shift from classical understanding to phenomenological understanding. The results of the survey show traditional understanding to be favoured, however. In the concluding remarks, I evaluate my findings and suggest what direction future studies may take. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

This paper investigates the contours of the program of New Evangelisation of Europe (NEE) in the Roman-Catholic Church. While the roots lie with Vatican II and Paul VI.'s Evangelii Nuntiandi, the concept itself was developed by Pope John Paul II., the European Council of Bishops (CCEE) and the Bishops' Special Synod on Europe in 1991. The concept sees European culture as having been born out of Catholic Christianity. Postchristian Europe therefore is judged as having lost its (catholic) soul. This becomes evident in a reduction of humanness in the personal, cultural and spiritual realm. Therefore official Catholic teaching outlines NEE as personal spiritual renewal, catholic unity and cultural transformation. Source, norm and bearer of the NEE is the Roman-Catholic church. The author however thinks that genuine renewal springs from God's Word and Spirit (missio Dei), creating communities of faith, transforming both, church and culture in Europe. / Viele Jahrhunderte lang sahen die europaischen Kirchen ihren Kontinent und ihre Kultur als corpus Christianum. ,,Mission" galt nur den ,,Heiden" in Obersee. Diese Sicht geriet im Laufe des 20. Jahrhunderts ins Wanken. Imrner mehr Stimrnen fragten: ist nicht auch Europa ,,Missionfeld"? Inzwischen sind sich die meisten kirchlichen Traditionen in Europa einig, dal3 sie es mit einer ,,nachchristlichen" oder ,,neuheidnischen" Kultur zu tun haben, die emeut missionarisch mit dem Evangelium durchdrungen werden mu13. Die vorliegende Arbeit mochte die Konturen und Grundlinien des romisch-katholischen Programmes der Neuevangelisierung Europas (NEE) verstehen, darstellen und kritisch wurdigen. Die Arbeit besteht aus sechs Hauptteilen. Im ersten Teil werden grundlegende missiologische Aussagen des II. Vatikanischen Konzils und das Schreiben Papst Pauls VI. Evangelii Nuntiandi als Hintergrund und Wurzel fur das Konzept der NEE interpretiert. Im zweiten Teil stelle ich die Entwicklung der NEE im Denken Johannes Pauls II. seit 1979 dar, wahrend ich mich im dritten Teil auf die Interpretation der NEE auf den Symposien des Rates der Europaischen Bischofskonferenzen (CCEE) von 1982-1989 konzentriere. In verschiedenen Nuancen heben sich die Interpretationen der Bischfofe von den Gedanken Papst Johannes Pauls II. ab, ohne jedoch grundlegende Widerspriiche zu erzeugen. Im vierten T eil zeichne ich die Gedankengange zur NEE anhand der Abschlu13erklarung der Sondersynode der Bischofe fur Europa von 1991 nach. Die Synode stellt einen unspektakularen Hohepunkt, eine gewisse Zasur und eine ausgewogene Zusamrnenfassung der Entwicklung des Konzeptes dar. Eine systematische Zusamrnenfassung der Grundlinien der NEE bildet den funften Teil. Es wird deutlich, da13 die NEE die gesamte missionarische Existenz der romischkatholischen Kirche in Europa in all ihrer Vielfalt umfasst, um dem Ziel geistlicher, kirchlicher und kultureller Emeuerung im eschatologischen Horizont des Reiches Gottes naherzukommen. Im abschlie13enden Teil versuche ich das Konzept der Neuevangelisierung Europas anhand verschiedener missiologischer Modelle einzuordnen und aus evangelikaler Sicht kritisch zu wlirdigen. Die Starke des Konzeptes sehe ich im kulturbezogenen Ruf zur Urnkehr aus gottlosem und destruktivem Glauben, Denken und Handeln und der Verkiindigung der Hinkehr zu Jesus Christus, die sich in alle Bereiche der Kultur auswirkt und somit Europa mit neuer Hoffnung und Zukunft erfullen kann. Die Schwache des (offiziellen) Konzeptes sehe ich darin, da13 die romisch-katholische Kirche m.E. zur Norm fur die Emeuerung gemacht wird. Umfassende Emeuerung jedoch geht von Gottes Wort und Geist (missio Dei) aus, der Kirche und Kultur verandert und erneuert. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

This dissertation considers the possibility that, flowing from his broader theological framework and historical background, John Calvin’s eucharistic theology ‘re-invents’ a doctrine where the ‘substance’ (meaning) of the elements becomes the body and blood of Christ, and the believer who receives them is drawn, through understanding, into participation in Christ. The study begins with the historical setting and the second chapter sketches Calvin’s life. Chapter 3 considers epistemology and the impact of classical rhetoric on Calvin’s approach to knowledge. The following chapter considers Calvin’s understanding of our relationship with the Father, and of Christ as Mediator and as means of salvation. Chapter 5 considers the work of the Spirit in nurturing faith, a ‘higher knowledge’, through preparing us for knowledge of Christ and mediating our understanding of and participation in him. In this manner the Spirit acts as an instrument of revelation to enable us to participate in Christ. Chapters 6 and 7 move to consider Calvin’s writing on the Sacraments, their nature as sign and seals of the promise made in Christ, their substance and their role in our participation in Christ and, in the light of the duplex gratia, as gateways to participation. In Chapter 8 Calvin’s teaching is examined in terms of his opposition to the doctrine of transubstantiation, and his understanding of substance is considered. The possibility that Calvin ‘re-invents’ the doctrine is proposed. This is not to suggest that there is a conscious copying of the doctrine, but that through the process of forming his doctrine, using an alternate philosophical framework, Calvin’s understanding bears significant similarities to the doctrine he so deeply opposed. His key opposition to transubstantiation can then be seen to be to the materialist interpretations that impede the ability of the believer to lift his attention beyond the physical elements to the divine offer they represent. The study concludes by briefly considering the significance of Calvin’s ‘reinvention’ for contemporary understandings.

法國歷史長期以來多樣性文化造成的地方特殊性，在旺代地區與羅馬公教信仰結合，成為宗教信仰與地方認同的綜合體——鐘聲文化。透過教堂與教堂的鐘，神職人員掌控居民的一切活動，創造與教堂密不可分的生活經驗，也以教堂為中心建立一個居民共享的文化空間。 　　法國大革命延續波旁王室追求中央集權與教權歸屬王權的目標，希望能夠創立全國性的國家認同，打破過去各地方獨立的地方特殊性，以及宗教干預政治的傳統，並將法國建構成一個想像的共同體。而在鐘聲文化之下，旺代則希望能夠維持地方情感，保護信仰，延續法國歷史上地方精神與中央精神的抗衡。旺代戰爭的意義在於突顯出法國並不是一個單一的概念，在法國一詞之下，包含的是各種各樣的文化與生活模式。 　　旺代的地方意識，顯現出法國歷史的延續性，並沒有因為革命發生而斷裂。而法國大革命所彰顯的國家認同，目的則在使法國能真正朝向一個民族國家前進，不再是分散的、對中央沒有依賴性的不緊密結構。延續與變遷，便構成法國大革命時期，旺代地區的認同糾葛。 　　本文所要探究的，即是從旺代地區在舊制度時期羅馬公教下鐘聲文化開始，進而探討大革命發生後，在旺代戰爭過程中，地方意識與中央集權的對抗，以及戰後國家認同的問題。 / In French history, cultural diversity influenced the identity of many different regions. In the case of Vendée, local identity, strengthened by the Roman Catholic Church, formed a special concept, which was described as “esprit du clocher”. The rhythm of daily life, as well as the general view of the world, was dominated by the church bell. Even after the French revolution, the French government followed the example from the ancien régime. They tried to replace this feeling of local identity with the spirit of a new nation. The general tendency of centralization continued. However, Vendée tried hard to maintain their long held approach. The Vendée War was a result of the cumulation of this tension. The outcome of this war proved that the new national identity was prevailing. In this thesis, the author wishes to examine the transition from the esprit du clocher to the esprit de la nation.

The thesis "Medial muck-raking of sexual affairs in the Church in Czech press in spring 2010" through the use of medial ruts, stereotypes and logic, inquires into medial texts from the springtime 2010, which have referenced to sexual affairs in Catholic Church. Based on medial theories (gatekeeping, social construction of reality, agenda setting etc.) the thesis follows up the reflection of the theme and specifics of media discourse. This view is complemented with interviews with members of the Church, which give the thesis out-of- media extent. Qualitative part of the thesis takes sexual affairs in Church as illustrative theme, which is meant in connection with the Roman Catholic Church reflected by Czech media. The thesis also attempts to generalize the actual medial reflection of the Church on the background of current medial trends. It tries to offer a way how to improve the relationship between two part of culture - media and the Roman Catholic Church. To put the thesis into context it will be provided with information about history of the Roman Catolic Church and relationship of Czech society to matters of the church, because it determinates perception of medial news about this theme.

Annotation: The thesis Roman Catholic Church and the ecumenical movement since the end of II. World War II until the end of the pontificate of John Paul II. discusses the efforts that were made in Roman Catholic Church toward the ecumenical movement after World War II. The content of this thesis describes different pontificates, characteristics of popes and their impact on ecumenism. It also gives the definition of the ecumenical movement and its development. In the third chapter, this thesis analyzes II. Vatican Council and its ecumenical approchement with the terms of the Roman Catholic Church with other Christian churches.