«L’ultimo nemico ad essere sottomesso…» (1 Cor 15,26)

Appunti per una teologia della morte

Abstract

In the overall climate of silence in the recent theology on death, this study intends to give new impetus to this field of research, paying particular attention to some passages in the pre and post conciliar debate. Starting from the neoclassical model, which identified death as a consequence of original sin, two reactions which dismiss such a connection are analyzed: that of P. Teilhard de Chardin which recuperates the natural origin of death, and that of G. Martelet which reiterates the reference to Christ. This article thus shows the limitation of having lost the reference to sin in the interpretation of death, and recuperates the natural, christological and penal dimensions which in final analysis should be taken together as a whole.