Obedience as a theme in the documents of the Second Vatican Council
This thesis is an analysis of Vatican IIâs handling of the theme of obedience, conducted from the standpoint of systematic theology. It is not a study of the development of ideas about obedience during the course of the Council; it treats Vatican II's documents as a finished corpus, using earlier magisterial statements as historical background against which to discern shifted emphases in the theology presented by the Council. In Chapter I we establish obedience as a pivotal idea in relation to which the co-ordination of Vatican II's ecclesiology, anthropology, and doctrine of God may be examined. Chapters II-V consider the place of obedience in the Council's ecclesiology; we find obedience correlated with a view of authority rooted in the concept of the âinvitatory sign'. This view modifies the formerly predominantly jurisdictional emphasis in the Catholic perception of authority, by integrating jurisdiction more closely with kerygma and sacrament. However, although the jurisdictional element of authority is thus modified and relativised, it remains important. We find that Vatican II's ideal of obedience is generally logically consistent with its view of authority, but is not necessarily socially plausible.
Hutchison, Margaret Ann
Philosophy
Obedience as a theme in the documents of the Second Vatican Council. This thesis is an analysis of Vatican IIâs handling of the theme of obedience, conducted from the standpoint of systematic theology. It is not a study of the development of ideas about obedience during the course of the Council; it treats Vatican II's documents as a finished corpus, using earlier magisterial statements as historical background against which to discern shifted emphases in the theology presented by the Council. In Chapter I we establish obedience as a pivotal idea in relation to which the co-ordination of Vatican II's ecclesiology, anthropology, and doctrine of God may be examined. Chapters II-V consider the place of obedience in the Council's ecclesiology; we find obedience correlated with a view of authority rooted in the concept of the âinvitatory sign'. This view modifies the formerly predominantly jurisdictional emphasis in the Catholic perception of authority, by integrating jurisdiction more closely with kerygma and sacrament. However, although the jurisdictional element of authority is thus modified and relativised, it remains important. We find that Vatican II's ideal of obedience is generally logically consistent with its view of authority, but is not necessarily socially plausible.
obedience theme document second_vatican_council analysis handle theme obedience conduct standpoint systematic_theology study development idea obedience course council treat document finish corpus use earlier magisterial statement historical_background discern shift theology present council establish obedience pivotal idea relation co_ordination ecclesiology anthropology doctrine_god may examine consider place obedience council ecclesiology obedience correlate view authority root concept sign view formerly predominantly emphasis catholic perception authority integrate jurisdiction closely sacrament however although element authority thus modify remain_important ideal obedience generally logically consistent view authority necessarily socially plausible