"Christianity, by those doctrinal aspects that we have just emphasized as well as by others, brought something absolutely new into the world. Its concept of salvation is not merely novel in comparison with that of those religions in existence at the time of its birth. It is a unique phenomenon in the religious history of mankind.For what do we witness outside Christianity whenever a religious movement rises above the domain of sense and effectively transcends the limit of nationality? In every case, though appearances may differ considerably, the basis is the same—an individualist doctrine of escape. It was this that inspired ancient mysticism, whether it sought to escape the vicissitudes of the sub-lunary world or to pass over the outer circle of the cosmos and to penetrate into the realm of intelligible Essences or even beyond."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Ch. V. "Christianity and History", p. 63
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henri_de_Lubac
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Henri de Lubac
Henri de Lubac (20 February 1896 – 4 September 1991) was a French Jesuit priest who became a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, and is considered to be one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century.
53 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Henri de Lubac →
Related Quotes
"The Church, without being exactly co-extensive with the Mystical Body, is not adequately distinct from it. For this r…"
"In the interests of refuting such chaotic concepts as those which see a divine Church only in a "Church of the saints…"
"Christian tradition has always looked on heaven under the analogy of a city. Coelestis urbs Jerusalem.[…] It is a cit…"
"Flight, Escape: that in fact was Plato's dictum regarding the soul that acknowledges in itself a principle superior t…"
"The moral value of the different systems varies very considerably. So does their spiritual depth; but in this connect…"
"Outside Christianity humanity can doubtless be raised in an exceptional manner to certain spiritual heights, and it i…"
"It becomes increasingly clear that […] the Christian's watchword can no longer be "escape" but "collaboration". He mu…"
"No one has the right to say with Cain: "Am I my brother's keeper?" [Gen 4:9] No one is a Christian for himself alone."
"She is the Catholic Church: neither Latin nor Greek, but universal.[…] Nothing authentically human, whatever its orig…"
"The supernatural dignity of one who has been baptized rests, we know, on the natural dignity of man, though it surpas…"