How Theology Moves Along

If you want to see how the evolution of doctrine works in practice look up Avery Cardinal Dulles’ learned article "Who Can Be Saved?" in February’s First Things. In a succinct and brisk narrative Dulles describes how Christians developed their theological reflections on salvation from scriptural beginnings to the present. We can wince again to read Augustine and his followers’ pessimistic views that God doesn’t want everyone to be saved; so of course those who never have a chance to hear the gospels "are eternally punished for original sin as well as any personal sins they had committed." Pagans, Jews, heretics and schismatics outside the Church will go to the eternal fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels." After hitting this nadir, theological reflection could only move up. Beginning with the scriptural witness that God seriously wills all to be saved, theologians began to puzzle over how this might happen. Slowly over the centuries new solutions emerge with new concepts of "implicit faith," "invincible ignorance," baptism by desire," "implicit desire" and even "unconscious desire." By the time we get to Vatican II, God’s universal saving will can be trusted to give non-Christians , and even atheists, sufficient help to be saved. Karl Rahner’s influential idea of "anonymous Christians" asserts that God anonymously reveals Godself to everyone in an interior offer of grace. Salvation becomes a matter of seeking truth and living by the light of conscience. Missionary work and evangelization is still a good thing because the truths and gifts available in the church help ensure salvation. Today in the evolving theological story, contentious discussions are focused on the saving role of other religions. Cardinal Dulles refrains from detailing the still undecided ins and outs of the current fray, and concludes his essay with the hopeful words, "Perhaps some will reach the goal of their search only at the moment of death." But why, it may be asked, should the Church’s progressive journey toward greater inclusion not continue? I am inspired by another great Jesuit, Jacques Dupuis’ work. He affirms that the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Word of God is "decisive" and "unsurpassable," but not "exhaustive." God’s creativity is inexhaustible and works always and everywhere--in and out of human hearts and in other religions. And why cut off the narrative with "the moment of death?" Since we already have a concept of purgatory, perhaps an extension of the human spiritual journey awaits in the fullness of God’s time. This expansion of merciful love and time for discovery within the community of God’s family would help us understand the future of dying infants, the unborn, the mentally incapacitated and other invincibly ignorant and sinful folk. So, will all be saved? Yes, if we trust the Lord’s words: "I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut." Sidney Callahan