Karl Adam (theologian)
Encyclopedia
Karl Borromäus Adam was a German
Catholic theologian of the early 20th century.
Adam was born in Bavaria
in 1876. He attended the Philosophical and Theological Seminary at Regensburg
and was ordained in 1900. Adam spent the next two years doing parish work. Adam received his doctorate at the University of Munich in 1904.
In 1915, he became a professor of theology in Munich
. Two years later, he accepted a chair in moral theology
at Strasbourg
and in 1919 he went to teach dogmatic theology
at the University of Tübingen
. He retired from that post in 1949.
Adam wrote extensively on theology. His books include: Tertullian's Concept of the Church, Eucharistic Teaching of St. Augustine, Christ Our Brother, The Son of God, The Spirit of Catholicism, Roots of the Reformation and One And Holy.
Adam is best known for his 1924 work, The Spirit of Catholicism. It has been widely translated, and is still in print today. In The Spirit Of Catholicism, Adam communicates with the laity about the Catholic faith and the Church's role as the keeper of the faith.
In 1934 he delivered a denunciation of the so-called German religion in an address on "The Eternal Christ". Foreword to Spirit of Catholicism, 1954 Doubleday
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Catholic theologian of the early 20th century.
Adam was born in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
in 1876. He attended the Philosophical and Theological Seminary at Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
and was ordained in 1900. Adam spent the next two years doing parish work. Adam received his doctorate at the University of Munich in 1904.
In 1915, he became a professor of theology in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Two years later, he accepted a chair in moral theology
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
at Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
and in 1919 he went to teach dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology is that part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and his works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church, Dutch Reformed Church, etc...
at the University of Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
. He retired from that post in 1949.
Adam wrote extensively on theology. His books include: Tertullian's Concept of the Church, Eucharistic Teaching of St. Augustine, Christ Our Brother, The Son of God, The Spirit of Catholicism, Roots of the Reformation and One And Holy.
Adam is best known for his 1924 work, The Spirit of Catholicism. It has been widely translated, and is still in print today. In The Spirit Of Catholicism, Adam communicates with the laity about the Catholic faith and the Church's role as the keeper of the faith.
In 1934 he delivered a denunciation of the so-called German religion in an address on "The Eternal Christ". Foreword to Spirit of Catholicism, 1954 Doubleday
Further reading
- Mit brennender SorgeMit Brennender SorgeMit brennender Sorge is a Catholic Church encyclical of Pope Pius XI, published on 10 March 1937 . Written in German, not the usual Latin, it was read from the pulpits of all German Catholic churches on one of the Church's busiest Sundays,...
- Vatican encyclical published 1937 on the fifth Sunday of Lent, by Pope Pius XIIPope Pius XIIThe Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958.... - namesake St. Charles BorromeoCharles BorromeoCharles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
External links
- Karl Adam profile and books on Goodreads
- Spirit of Catholicism: Karl Adam
- Photographic likeness at Shoahrose website dedicated to Christian defense of Jewish victims of the Shoah from Google cache dated Dec 24, 2008 00:11:39 GMT
- "Karl Adam, National Socialism and Christian Tradition" Robert A. Krieg, Theological Studies, Vol. 60, 1999
- Relevance in the papacy of Benedict XVI; contemporary dogma seen in a hermeneutic of continuity from a pre-Vatican II perspective
