The Phenomenological Model of Dogmatic Theology? Insights from Jean-Luc Marion

Abstract

The subject of this article is the applicability of Jean-Luc Marion's phenomenology to dogmatic theology. The article first presents Marion's views on phenomenology. It then analyses three theological strands relevant to it: the author's conception of Revelation as a saturated phenomenon, Christology and Trinitarian theology. Marion proposes to theology a broader coalition with phenomenology, claiming that because of the phenomenological nature of Revelation, it is phenomenology that constitutes the most appropriate methodological instrumentarium for it. This paper examines the consequences and problems of adopting such a position in dogmatic theology, particularly the ambivalence of Marion's gesture of abrogation of metaphysics.