Crucialism
Crucial is defined as both "vital" and "cruciform/cross-conformed.” For the Christian it is indeed vital to be cross-conformed:
“Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me.” MT 16:24.
Crucialism is a theological ethos that applies this essential Gospel mandate to embrace the Cross within the context of the third millennium. Crucialism is dogmatically rooted in the ancient, immutable Deposit of the Faith and thus it is catechectical. More so, crucialism is an application of that dogma, and hence it depends on the Church's moral theology. But crucialism's specific difference is neither being a compendium of dogma nor a manual of specific moral laws. Rather Crucialism is an enunciation of the most fundamental truths of the Faith, a preaching of Christ Crucified, and a moral exhortation to the deepest spirit of the law, specifically tailored towards the courageous and intentional celebration of the Christian life in this third millennium.
The Christian life must indeed be courageous, for what is vital to it is embracing Christ Crucified. And the Christian life must indeed be celebratory, for it is full of infinite vitality. Today's hostile milieu requires nothing less than such a courageous and celebratory personal commitment to Christ. Crucialism (in accord with the Christian principle of subsidiarity) recognizes that the locus of Christian inspiration and action to be most deep rooted and effective must be on the most fundamental level: within the heart of the believer. So too, this means that the family, as the most fundamental social unit, must take precedent as the locus of Christian life. Thus crucialism addresses quite specifically the ethos of the Christian individual and the Christian family in an increasingly hostile and anti-Christic 21st Century milieu.
Excerpt from Crucial Christianity: An Ethos Theology for the Third Millennium; G.C. Dilsaver, 2019 All Rights Reserved.
“Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me.” MT 16:24.
Crucialism is a theological ethos that applies this essential Gospel mandate to embrace the Cross within the context of the third millennium. Crucialism is dogmatically rooted in the ancient, immutable Deposit of the Faith and thus it is catechectical. More so, crucialism is an application of that dogma, and hence it depends on the Church's moral theology. But crucialism's specific difference is neither being a compendium of dogma nor a manual of specific moral laws. Rather Crucialism is an enunciation of the most fundamental truths of the Faith, a preaching of Christ Crucified, and a moral exhortation to the deepest spirit of the law, specifically tailored towards the courageous and intentional celebration of the Christian life in this third millennium.
The Christian life must indeed be courageous, for what is vital to it is embracing Christ Crucified. And the Christian life must indeed be celebratory, for it is full of infinite vitality. Today's hostile milieu requires nothing less than such a courageous and celebratory personal commitment to Christ. Crucialism (in accord with the Christian principle of subsidiarity) recognizes that the locus of Christian inspiration and action to be most deep rooted and effective must be on the most fundamental level: within the heart of the believer. So too, this means that the family, as the most fundamental social unit, must take precedent as the locus of Christian life. Thus crucialism addresses quite specifically the ethos of the Christian individual and the Christian family in an increasingly hostile and anti-Christic 21st Century milieu.
Excerpt from Crucial Christianity: An Ethos Theology for the Third Millennium; G.C. Dilsaver, 2019 All Rights Reserved.