Religion as a spiritual autoerotism or logocentred attitude of faith? Consequences of personal understanding of Absolute in Joseph Ratzinger’s theology

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to reason theistic religion as rational by referring to the idea of Absolute in Christianity and Eastern religion. The subject of research concern theology of Joseph Ratzinger, in particular statements about Buddhism. The analysis shows that an important element differentiates between theistic religion, particularly Christianity and mystic religion is understanding of Absolute. This general thesis led to three main conclusions. First, one of the key elements of Christian religion is the notion of person, used also in regard to Absolute. Second, consequence of this thesis is recognition that the world is the result of creation and has its source in Logos. The last conclusion comes down to a recognition that religion (and all cultic forms of religiosity), rejecting the limitation of man, closes in particularisms and is, consequently, self-affirmation.