This booklet is intended for a very narrow circle of readers. Not for theologian-rationalists who theologize (better to say: prattle) for the sake of theologizing, who speak merely to speak, disconnected from reality, from the pressing problems and questions of today – they will find no sustenance here, for they only engage in quoting (without understanding the essence of the quote – see the Holy Scripture, the Bible) and comparing quotes, and, poor things, think they already know everything; not for saints, for they no longer need to be reminded to love God and their neighbor with the love of Christ; not for the “righteous” – they are unreachable anyway, for they will not listen; not for those who are content with their own happiness – for them, the true Happiness – the Kingdom of God, is unnecessary…
The book is addressed to those who are not afraid to look Truth (that which really is) in the eye; those who do not fear to become their own prosecutors, renouncing self-defense, egocentrism; those who are not afraid to think, to ask questions; those who dare to doubt their own knowledge, understanding of God, the Church, the Sacraments, …, Love, …, Life, Happiness; those who are not afraid of responsibility (FREEDOM) and want to LIVE, not just exist…
The goal of this booklet is not to provide answers, but primarily to help pose questions, without which a change of life is impossible; without formulating which, it is impossible to hear the answer – the Gospel. The Savior is needed by those who are perishing! The doctor is needed by the sick! The teacher is needed by the foolish! Justification (in the existential sense – V.A.) is necessary for sinners, not the righteous! As long as we
consider ourselves healthy, not very sinful, or sinful like everyone else, as long as we can love without God, as long as we are not so bad: we fast twice a week, give alms and tithes, attend the temple (not the Church!) for services, confess and take communion, not like those pagans and nominal Christians (the tax collector and the Pharisee), Christ
– the Savior, the Doctor, – is not needed by us!
Christianity begins not where there is merely a formal declaration of baptism, but where Christ is needed; where Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of everything…
This booklet is an introductory course of lectures on ‘The Very Basics of Theology’ for first-year students of the Soteriological Faculty at the Polyglot Catholic University, where the editor teaches lectures on this subject. The booklet is intended for a very narrow circle of readers – those who sincerely seek the truth!