A Theological Phenomenology of Listening: God’s ‘Voice’ and ‘Silence’ after Auschwitz

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Theological Phenomenology of Listening: God’s ‘Voice’ and ‘Silence’ after Auschwitz

AU - Welz, Claudia

PY - 2019/3

Y1 - 2019/3

N2 - This paper develops a theological phenomenology of listening by exploring the following questions: First, what is the relation, in prayer, between speech and silence? Second, may we legitimately determine prayer as a ‘dialogue’ with God? Third, what does it mean to speak of God’s ‘silence’ after Auschwitz—is God completely ‘absent’ or just ‘hidden’? Fourth, how can we identify what God wants us to say and do, and how can we know whether a prayer has been answered? Texts by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim authors (from Rûmî via Luther, Kierkegaard, and Chrétien to Buber, Fackenheim, Levinas, and Derrida) provide the basis for the discussion.

AB - This paper develops a theological phenomenology of listening by exploring the following questions: First, what is the relation, in prayer, between speech and silence? Second, may we legitimately determine prayer as a ‘dialogue’ with God? Third, what does it mean to speak of God’s ‘silence’ after Auschwitz—is God completely ‘absent’ or just ‘hidden’? Fourth, how can we identify what God wants us to say and do, and how can we know whether a prayer has been answered? Texts by Jewish, Christian, and Muslim authors (from Rûmî via Luther, Kierkegaard, and Chrétien to Buber, Fackenheim, Levinas, and Derrida) provide the basis for the discussion.

U2 - 10.3390/rel10030139

DO - 10.3390/rel10030139

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2077-1444

VL - 139

JO - Religions

JF - Religions

IS - 10

ER -