The end of time? the provocation of talking about God ; proceedings of an meeting of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Johann Baptist Metz, Jürgen Moltmann, and Eveline Goodman-Thau in Ahaus. Ed. by Tiemo Rainer Peters and Claus Urban. English ed. transl. and e

An opportunity to listen in on what was an important forum for theological discussion and an experiment in church politics, this work makes available the proceedings from this significant meeting. Of particular interest is the appearance here of Metz and Ratzinger, two theologians who had clashed in the past and who are, theologically, poles apart. On the occasion of his seventieth birthday Professor Johann Baptist Metz was joined by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Defense of the Faith, as well as by Eveline Goodman-Thau, a Jewish philosopher of religion, and Protestant theologian Jrgen Moltmann, for a meeting at Ahaus Palace on the subject of God and the end of time. This work, translated for the first time from German, now makes available the proceedings from this significant meeting. Of particular interest for readers is the joint appearance here of Metz and Ratzinger, two theologians who had clashed in the past and who are, theologically, poles apart. It is remarkable here that the participants were able to put aside personal differences and church politics to "do theology." Readers will read with appreciation this thought-provoking work that offers them the unique opportunity to listen in on what was an important forum for theological discussion and an experiment in church politics. "On the occasion of his seventieth birthday, Professor Johann Baptist Metz, professor emeritus of theology at the University of Munster, was joined by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Defense of the Faith, as well as by Eveline Goodman-Thau, a Jewish philosopher of religion, and Protestant theologian Jurgen Moltmann, for a meeting at Ahaus Palace on the subject of God and the end of time." "Readers will appreciate this work, translated for the first time from German, which offers them the unique opportunity to listen in on what was a significant forum of theologians who contributed differing perspectives on this fascinating topic."--BOOK JACKET "Why do we do theology?" / Tiemo Rainer Peters The end of time / Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger God : against the myth of the eternity of time / Johann Baptist Metz God, guilt, and suffering : a conversation / Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Johann Baptist Metz From the beginning of time in God's presence / Jürgen Moltmann Writing history as messianic hermeneutics / Eveline Goodman-Thau Speaking provocatively about God : a discussion moderated by Robert Leicht / the participants Epilogue : what is it time for? / Jürgen Werblick.