L’uso delle immagini nella ricerca teologica

Una questione di metodo

Abstract

This article intends to explore the appropriateness and the way in which images in theological research are employed and to this end to set out some adequate guidelines. Having defined the gnoseological nature and value of images, the author proposes the reappropriation of some fundamental in-struments proper to the phenomenological method considered particularly suitable to the use of images in theology. Subsequently, the paper will exam-ine the advantages and limitations inherent in the approach to reality and to the contents of faith capable of enhancing the contribution of imagina-tion, which consist in particular in the opportunity of developing a reflection which is unaffected by an excess of abstraction but open to a reconciliation between thought and action, between theology and spirituality. Finally the author offers some useful indications in order to set out the attention to im-ages according to a biblical hermeneutic; a necessity which corresponds to the effort of post-conciliar theology to make the listening to the Word of God the heart of theological reflection.