The theory of redemption in the religious philosophy of S. Frank and F. Rosenzweig

Abstract

The article is devoted to the comparison of the religious and philosophical views of F. Rosenzweig and S. Frank through the example of the two concepts disclosure, the deliverance and redemption, the first of which is characteristic for Judaism, and the second is for Orthodox Christianity. The article discusses the central work of F. Rosenzweig “The Star of Redemption” and the critical article by S. Frank “The Mystical Philosophy of F. Rosenzweig”, considered in the framework of neo-Kantian “new religiosity”. The author conducts a study of the religious and philosophical beliefs of S. Frank, explained in his later works, in particular, in the book “God with us”. The paper draws terminological and doctrinal distinction between concepts of the deliverance and redemption, to reflect transformation of the deliverance concept in the early Christian period. He mentions two waves of actualization of interest in existential problematics in Orthodox theology, which resulted in disclosure of some aspects inherent to Christianity. The article describes some aspects of F. Rosenzweig’s religious philosophy and points to his complex religious and ideological identity. Rosenzweig has created the religious system built on the fundamental rejection of the idea of all unity. God, the world, and man for him were three autonomous primary elements of being, between which a correlation arises under certain conditions. While the ontology of S. Frank is based on the idea of reconciliation of the suffering world and God, possible as a result of the repentance and redemption.