Open AccessSeeking Grace in the Chasm:
Author(s) -
Megan Heeder
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
lumen et vita
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2329-1087
DOI - 10.6017/lv.v10i2.12493
Subject(s) - beauty , virtue , realm , philosophy , poetry , aesthetics , public sphere , theology , sociology , law , political science , linguistics , politics
A hermeneutic of unity between beauty and virtue, inspired by the work of Gregory of Nazianzus, offers a way to seek the Holy Spirit’s presence in the apparent chasm between the church and the secular realm. This paper describes beauty’s role in Gregory of Nazianzus’ poetry and orations and analyzes how adopting Gregory’s hermeneutic of unity between beauty and virtue can strengthen the church’s relationship with the secular sphere. The paper’s second part draws on Karl Rahner’s conception of the anonymous Christian to detail how a willingness to recognize virtue’s beauty in the public sphere can open the ecclesial community to the Holy Spirit’s movement both within and beyond the church.