Gottes Wort im »Kant-Jahr« Theologische Überlegungen zum Augenmaß des Glaubens

This text reflects on the relation of faith and reason and of theology and science in the context of the author's experiences in the GDR and at a university in the Federal Republic of Germany. In the GDR, theology that used the »Word of God« as its main guideline was a home for the free and critical use of reason. However, theology can neither incorporate Kant's concept of a faith based on reason, nor can it evade contemporary criticism of the Christian faith by restricting itself to dealing with the »religion« of individuals. As the basis of theology, the »Word of God« is a provocation for university and science. However, by reflecting on the Word, theology fosters the use of sense and reason in science, productively discusses the understanding of Man and of the world in public and ensures that the faith of the church can be clearly distinguished from mistaken beliefs and superstition.