The Loyola School of Theology (L.S.T.) invites you to the oral defense of the S.T.D. Dissertation entitled “THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE FABC AND JACQUES DUPUIS: A Vision for Evangelization of the Church of Vietnam” by Fr. PHAN VAN DINH (Diocese of My Tho) on 11 October 2024, Friday, 3:00 p.m., at the Tipanan ni San Ignacio, DLC 201, 2/F Dela Costa Bldg., L.S.T. The Board of Examiners is composed of Fr. Manuel Francisco, S.J., S.T.D. (Adviser), Fr. Jojo Fung, S.J., Ph.D. (Second Reader/Principal Examiner), Br. Joaquin Yap, Jr., S.W., D.Phil., and Fr. Hartono Budi, S.J., Th.D. The defense is being held in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctorate in Sacred Theology specializing in the field of Systematic Theology.
Abstract: Although the FABC has promoted a Kingdom-centered vision in the Church’s mission for some decades, this model has not been dominant in the evangelization initiatives of many Asian Churches, particularly those of the Church of Vietnam. In the context of religious pluralism, shifting the mindset of evangelizers from a Church-centered paradigm to a regnocentric approach begs the question, unaddressed by Vatican II: How does God bring about salvation outside of Christianity? This study explores the FABC’s and Dupuis’ vision on the saving role of Christ for non-Christians in God’s universal design and the why and how of promoting a regnocentric vision in the Asian Churches.
Beginning with the socio-political-religio-cultural backdrop of diverse religions in Asia and varying contemporary perspectives on the theology of religions, this exploration expresses the FABC’s and Dupuis’ perspectives on the following themes: mutual enrichment and convergence among religions; salvific values in non-Christian religions; the fullness of revelation in Christ; the Christ-event in relation to the Holy Spirit; the uniqueness and universality of Christ for human salvation; the nature of God’s Kingdom; relationships among the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, and the Church; relationships between proclamation and dialogue, belief and faith; the ultimate aim of evangelization; and the journey of Christians and non-Christians to salvation and the fulfillment of the Kingdom. The study then assesses these theological themes from the standpoint of conciliar and post-conciliar teachings, the CDF’s critique, and theologians’ agreements and arguments.
Finally, this study contributes to understanding more deeply the salvific action of the Word, the risen Christ, and the Spirit outside of Christianity and encouraging a threefold dialogue in the Church’s evangelization efforts toward global harmony through collaboration between Christians and members of other religions and the fostering of integral humanization. This research also responds to prevailing reservations about Asian theologies, regnocentric theology, and a Kingdom-centered approach to evangelization.