Johann Baptist Metz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johann Baptist Metz
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Johann Baptist Metz
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| Born | 5 August 1928 |
| Died | 2 December 2019 (aged 91) Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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| Organization | University of Münster |
Johann Baptist Metz (born August 5, 1928 – died December 2, 2019) was a German Catholic priest and a deep thinker about religion, called a theologian. He taught Fundamental Theology at the University of Münster. He also advised important church meetings in Germany. Many people see him as a very important German theologian after the Second Vatican Council. His ideas helped shape liberation theology, and he often talked about how important it is to feel compassion for others.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and War Experience
Johann Baptist Metz was born on August 5, 1928. He grew up in a town called Auerbach in der Oberpfalz, Germany. When he was a teenager in 1944, near the end of the Second World War, he had to join the German military.
Just six months before the war ended, American soldiers captured him. He was sent to prisoner of war camps in the United States. After the war, he returned to Germany.
Education and Priesthood
In 1948, Metz began studying theology and philosophy. He studied in different cities, including Bamberg, Munich, and Innsbruck. He earned his first degree in philosophy in 1951.
In 1954, he became a Catholic priest. He worked in church ministry for a few years. Later, he earned a higher degree in theology. His teacher was a famous theologian named Karl Rahner.
Professor and Influential Thinker
From 1963 to 1993, Metz was a professor. He taught Fundamental Theology at the University of Münster. During this time, he developed new ideas about theology. He thought about how faith should respond to terrible events like the Holocaust.
He brought in ideas from important thinkers of his time. These ideas were sometimes met with disagreement. His thoughts were very important for liberation theology in Latin America. This type of theology focuses on helping poor and oppressed people.
Metz also helped start the University of Bielefeld. He was a key member of a group that encouraged talks between Christians and Marxists. After the Second Vatican Council, he advised the Pope's office. He also helped write a key document for the German church.
Metz lived in Münster until he passed away on December 2, 2019.
Theology and Ideas
New Ways of Thinking
Johann Baptist Metz was a student of Karl Rahner, another famous theologian. But Metz developed his own unique ideas. He believed that theology should be connected to real-life actions and experiences.
Metz was a central figure in what is called political theology. This way of thinking strongly influenced liberation theology. Many people consider him one of the most important German theologians after the Second Vatican Council.
Focus on Suffering and Memory
A main part of Metz's thinking was paying attention to the suffering of others. Key ideas in his theology included memory, solidarity (being united with others), and storytelling.
He wrote several important books. Some of these include The Emergent Church and Faith in History and Society.
Dangerous Memory
A very important idea for Metz was "dangerous memory." This idea connects to a Greek word, anamnesis, which is important in the Christian Eucharist. Metz talked about "the dangerous memory of Jesus Christ." He also spoke of "the dangerous memory of suffering."
This idea came from Metz's experience as a German theologian. He felt it was important to rethink Christian theology after the Holocaust. He believed that traditional theology did not fully deal with such terrible historical events.
Metz also discussed how Christianity had become too focused on comfortable, middle-class ideas. He thought this made the Christian message less believable. His work Faith in History and Society explores these ideas.
Compassion for Others
A key theme in Metz's theology was compassion. This means being sensitive to the suffering of others. He also spoke of God's compassion and a deep love for God.
Works
- Metz, Johann Baptist (1969). Theology of the World, trans. William Glen-Doepel. New York: Seabury. ISBN: 9780816425686
- Metz, Johann Baptist (1980). Faith in History and Society: Toward a Practical Fundamental Theology. New York: Seabury. ISBN: 9780816404261
- Metz, Johann Baptist (1998). Poverty in Spirit. New York: Paulist Press. ISBN: 9780809137992
See also
In Spanish: Johann Baptist Metz para niños
