Dynamika miłosierdzia w orędziu nagrody i kary

Abstract

Realism of human life, in all its entirety, supposes co-existence of reward and punishment. Both categories are especially related to man’s freedom to make choices of values and attitudes. Moral qualification of these choices depends on their conformity or inconformity with human dignity and person’s integral vocation. The former conditions the state of unity with Infinite Good whereas the latter contributes to its lost. Hence existential nature of reward and punishment as the two dimensions of human life is even more clearly seen in the light of faith understood as an individual’s relationship to God and then to other people, the world and man himself. In their rational and emotional contexts, reward and punishment become a challenge provoking acceptation, negation or disbelief. The paper does not aim at solving problems or definite answering questions within the topic under discussion. Also, it does not offer thorough presentation of all possible (both individual and collective) forms of human reaction and attitudes towards reward and punishment. The author’s intention is to signal the moral doctrine of Jesus the Merciful as a Messenger sent to people to realize God’s history of salvation. Another goal is to clarify an unambiguous vision of reward and punishment in their thematic and existential unity.