| As a result of the Second Vatican Council's invitation to "read the signs of the time," and to interpret these sips in light of Christian faith and doctrine, Catholic thought has witnessed the explosion of numerous contextually rooted theological visions. Among other things, these visions have been informed by a wide range of gender, social, political and cultural experiences. This dissertation studies one such vision. It explores emerging U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology, and sets this vision in conversation with the leading Catholic theologian since the Council, Karl Rahner. This dissertation argues that Rahner's thought can, not only contribute to further organizing the various central themes that comprise U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology, but more importantly, that conversation with Rahner can deepen the theological foundations of U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology. In turn, U.S. Hispanic anthropology, founded upon the particular social, cultural, and gender reality of U.S. Hispanics, extends and challenges Rahner's theological anthropology.;Chapter One of this dissertation explores some fundamental issues in U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology. It introduces the notion of contextual theology, explores a number of issues relative to U.S. Hispanic theology, and concludes with a discussion of the methodology and sources within U.S. Hispanic theology. Chapter Two explores seven central themes of U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology, beginning with an analysis of the groundbreaking, work of Virgilio Elizondo, and his Christo-centric anthropological vision of the Galilean identity of Jesus. Chapter Three studies popular Catholicism as a central sacramental expression of U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology, and highlights U.S. Hispanic devotion to Mary, especially the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the devotion to Our Lady of Charity.;Chapters Four provides a study of Rahner's theological anthropology. Chapter Five concludes this dissertation by exploring the questions: What can Rahner's transcendental anthropology contribute to U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology, and what can U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology contribute, both critically and constructively to contemporary understandings of Rahner's transcendental anthropology? This final chapter underscores the analogical vision that underlies both Rahner's and U.S. Hispanic theological anthropology. |
