The Apologetic Thought of Father Idzi Radziszewski – The First Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the apologetic thoughts of Fr. Idzi Radziszewski, the first Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. Rev. I. Radziszewski believed that one of his most important duties was to fight against erroneous views concerning religion. In his works, he undertook a discussion with the evolutionary concept of religion and an incorrect understanding of the relationship between theology and natural sciences. In order to show the above mentioned dimensions of Fr. Radziszewski’s apologetic thought, we have analyzed four of his main works, considered to be the leading works in Polish apologetics. The analysis was conducted with an attempt to show two main topics, the focus points of the first Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin in his defense of Catholic thinking. These were: the question of the origin of religion and the relationship between theology and natural sciences. This analysis made it possible to show that, according to his views, Fr. I. Radziszewski: 1) opposed the conviction, widespread during his time, that only the so-called “scientific method” (negating e.g. philosophical reflection) allows one to reach the truth; 2) showed irremovable contradictions in the evolutionary concept of the origin of religion that prevailed in his time; 3) pointed to the rational basis for the supernatural origin of religion; 4) pointed to the necessity of respecting cognitive competence when conflicts arise between knowledge based on scientific cognition and knowledge that is the fruit of theological reflection; 5) he stated that no discoveries in the area of the sciences could ever, due to the different object of knowledge, undermine valid theological claims.