Outlines of a/my theology of reliance Philosophical contemplations on the theological significance of cultural spaces

Abstract

In this paper I outline a/my way of theological thinking based on Emmanuel Levinas’ concept of alterity, which has to continuously (re)orient itself in the space created by God. Placing the dimension of space and spatiality in the focus of my considerations creation theologically enables a more differentiated look at the challenges encounters with cultural alterities pose for the theological discourse today. Changing attitudes in the second half of the 20th century – expressed in the criticism of colonial Christian mission history – must be reflected in theological thinking and speaking in relation to cultural spaces. It is primarily a matter of spatially delimiting theological knowledge and speaking and of continuously (re)interpreting it self-critically and contextually through processes of cultural transformation.