"
Use of Scripture
Likewise, Kung has no use for authoritative scripture -- it is outdated and too much a part of the past, which Kung wishes to displace in favor of "the future." The future must not be informed by the old prejudices of the past -- it must branch out, like Edwards' ecological theology, encompassing as many faiths and traditions as possible, uniting them all under the roof of the religion of the global ethic. What Kung aims to do, therefore, is reduce the importance of Scripture even more than Edwards does -- to an anthill amongst other anthills, while he himself provides the new doctrine: his doctrine is filled with a list of "we must's" -- the commandments of Kung -- the voice of the new revolution.
Religious Symbol
Neither does Kung promote any new religious symbol -- his symbol is merely the symbol of revolution -- of future promised happiness: of liberty, fraternity, equality. The symbol is...
Kung's symbol is unity: "Together we can move mountains!" (p. 36). It is no longer through faith in Christ that one can move mountains -- it is now through mere unity. It is a romantic plea for universal brotherhood -- but a brotherhood founded on nothing particularly supernatural: a brotherhood founded on nothing particularly religious: a brotherhood founded simply on a new universal ethic -- an ethic derived from Romantic/Enlightenment doctrine.
Reference List
Edwards, D. (2001). Ecology at the Heart of Faith. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Faris, W.B. (2004). Ordinary Enchantments: Magical Realism and the Remystification
of Narrative. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press.
Kung, H., Kuschel, K. [ed]. (1993). A Global Ethic. New York, NY: Continuum.
Martin, M. (1987). The Jesuits. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
