In a recent interview with a Swiss church publication, the retired Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, spoke about his student years in Germany and France. He openly described the deep crises of faith he experienced as a young Dominican. His story sheds light on a period of upheaval in the Catholic Church and offers valuable insights for Christians wrestling with doubt today.
The Challenge of the Bultmann School
Schönborn began his theology studies in 1967 in Cologne. There he encountered the teachings of the so-called Bultmann school, which advocated an existentialist interpretation of the Bible. This school radically questioned traditional beliefs: Jesus’ divine sonship was seen as a mythological relic, and the bodily resurrection of Christ was reduced to the mere continuation of his cause. For the young Schönborn, this was a shock: “I watched in disbelief what was being taught—partly fascinated, and partly losing my footing,” he recalled.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)
These verses from Romans show that the unwavering love of God in Christ is a foundation that holds even in times of trial. Schönborn’s experiences highlight how important such a foundation is when intellectual currents challenge faith.
The Move to France and the Events of 1968
In the face of his uncertainty, Schönborn asked his superiors for a change of location. He was allowed to go to France to continue his studies. But there too he experienced a profound upheaval: the year 1968. In France, he witnessed how almost all seminaries closed within a short time. What he had experienced intellectually in Germany became existentially real for him in France. “The crisis was that the existential and theological foundations of my faith slipped away,” he explained. This time was a radical questioning of everything he had known as a young Christian and enthusiastic altar server in his parish.
The Search for a Sustainable Theology
In this crisis, Schönborn sought theologians who could help him understand faith anew. He found in Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, a connection between tradition and living presence. In Hans Küng, he did not find that connection. In Paris, with a small circle of friends, he began to study the Church Fathers intensively. This study opened up a new world for him. He discovered the great theologians of the 20th century, such as Henri de Lubac and Yves Congar, with whom he studied. These encounters helped him understand faith in a new depth and affirm it.
Lessons for Faith Today
Schönborn’s experiences show that crises of faith do not have to be the end of faith; they can lead to a more mature and deeper faith. Engaging with modern currents of thought can be unsettling, but it can also encourage us to better understand and ground our own faith. The Bible itself knows such crises: the psalmist cries out to God in distress, and Jesus himself experienced the feeling of abandonment on the cross.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1, NIV)
Yet even in that deepest crisis, faith
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