Wolfhart Pannenberg’s Theology of History

Abstract

The article deals with the role of Christianity in the universal history, as represented in the works of modern German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg (1926-2014). In the first part it discusses the problems of anthropological and theological approaches towards church history and the theory of historical research. The author represents the problem, which was widely discussed in western theology - a problem of correlation between salvation history (Heilsgeschichte) and universal history as well as the Pannenberg’s idea of indirect action of God in historical process. Pannenberg’s historical-theological views are put in dialogue with such thinkers of the 20th century as O. Cullmann, K. Rahner, J. Daniélou, E. Mühlenberg. Then the article explores Pannenberg’s views on the Christian church’s role in the forming of Western civilization. In addition to the constructive contribution of the church to the civilized system of European nations, Pannenberg views destructive consequences of Christians’ retreat from their true religious missions, seen in such dramatic events as religious wars and the extinction of the Christian state.