Abstract

Stollenwerk, Daniel J In our contemporary age that has lost confidence in both faith and reason, Pope Benedict XVI insisted throughout his pontificate upon the need for a new synthesis of both. In this article I consider Benedict's study of faith in relation to the ecumenical dialogue and point out that the schism between the Reformed Churches and the Roman Catholic Church occurred at the same time as the breakdown in the Western synthesis of faith and reason. I argue that Benedict's call for a new synthesis may be the only way toward unity at the same time that such a synthesis would fulfil Christianity's call to help direct history and thus construct a more hopeful future.