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Venard, Olivier-Thomas

L'essentiel du kérygme

2023 - Leo S. Olschki

P. 53-82

  • This essay first attempts to determine the meanings of the word «kerygma» and the issues surrounding its use. In itself, «kerygma» already designates an essential: to question today the «essence of the kerygma» is to admit that it has been encumbered, disfigured, even denatured, and this will be the object of our second moment. In Europe and in the globalized world, the transmission of the «kerygma» has been in crisis for at least three centuries: «The Gospel has passed away» exclaimed Arthur Rimbaud in 1873, and he had several good reasons for believing this, reasons that the past century has continued to amplify. His exclamation on the alleged obsolescence of the Gospel began with an «alas», suggesting how much its loss was that of something essential. What makes the kerygma stronger than the passing of time is the essence of the «kerygma», and our third part will attempt to bring it to light, by listening to some witnesses, believers or not. [Publisher's text]

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Rivista di storia e letteratura religiosa : LIX, 1, 2023