TA 6/2010 (115. vuosikerta)

The Main Types of the Christian Doctrine of Atonement — This article presents a new classification system for the Christian doctrine of atonement called ”the houses of reconciliation”, whose categories are the courthouse, the shopping centre, the home, the hospital, the theatre and the church. These ’houses’ are used metaphorically to represent different ways of conceptualising reconciliation. Theological considerations of different versions of the doctrine of atonement tend to adopt a minimalist or maximalist tendency. The minimalist or reductionist tendency aims to choose one of the houses of reconciliation and to justify this choice. The maximalist or pluralistic tendency aims to occupy several houses.

Religion and Religious Organisation in Project Collaboration: A Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Parish in Local Projects of the European Social Fund — The article discusses how religion manifests itself in project collaboration undertaken by an Evangelical-Lutheran parish. ESF project collaboration is religion-neutral local action governed by the EU. The research question is discussed through the dimensions of religion defined by Hinde: doctrinal, ritual, moral and social. The ritual and doctrinal dimensions of religion are marginal in project collaboration, representing individual choices that are irrelevant for the project as a whole. They do, however, offer an interface for traditional church practices from the parish point of view. By contrast, the moral and social dimensions are very important. Being less private, they enable the politicising and publicising of religion. Research findings indicate that a parish distinguishes itself from all other actors in project collaboration through its cultural capital, a tangible manifestation of religion. This cultural capital is the most valuable resource that a parish has in an increasingly multicultural and secular society.

Insights into the Psalm Quoted by Jesus: Paul Ricoeur’s Interpretation of Psalm 22 — One of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, Paul Ricoeur (1913–2005), made a significant contribution to Biblical and theological hermeneutics. This article presents an analysis of his interpretation of Psalm 22. Ricoeur explains why this psalm, and the Psalms in general, recur as a focus for prayer with extraordinary vigour. He also interprets the theological and ”theologoumenon” meanings of the psalm and explains what important roles these have in the cluster of theologies and the scriptures of the Old Testament, and also in the New Testament and in canonical reading of the Bible.