Echatological Imagination Of Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Catholic Social Teaching is one example of a tradition of ethics. Catholic Social Teaching is one such attempt to provide ethical counsel regarding just relationships in political and economic life (Massaro,57). In the nation state Chile there is an eschatological imagination of Catholic Social Teaching. An eschatological imagination of Catholic Social Teaching is the counter state of Pinochet’s regime. An eschatological imagination of Catholic Social Teaching is promoting the true good of everyone. An eschatological imagination for example is remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus, knowing the present torture and disappearance in the nation-state Chile, and
afterwards healing and preparing to receive the unity of Christ (Issing, 2015). This last part can incorporate Integral Human Development. Integral Human Development is to promote the good of every man and of the whole man (Populorum Progressio, 14).This concept is important because human beings have to be able to develop and prosper as a member of society. However, eschatology has a different meaning than eschatological imagination. Eschatology, “Is the study of the last things, reflects on the coming of God’s reign on earth” (Dear, 84).
This is essential because this reflects on what Jesus Christ has preached. This is the coming of a new kingdom. A kingdom full of peace, justice, and love. “The vision of Jesus is that we meet people at the bottom and help bring them up to trust themselves. In order to break down the walls that separate people we must not hit the walls” (Vanier, 71). This is important to integral human development because Jesus Christ wants us all to reach our full potential in every aspect of our lives (Issing, 2015). This development should come from the inside. Once this is completed humans are able to help others complete their full integral human development and have better lives. Jesus Christ vision of life is eschatological because Jesus Christ came to “Announce good news to the poor, freedom of captives, liberty to the oppressed, and sight to the blind” (Vanier, 71). His life is eschatological because he came to the world to preach and guide humanity in this path of nonviolence. Jesus Christ wants to, “Help the poor to rise up, and then help those who have power and money to see that sake of peace” (Vanier,
71). There are many benefits of this eschatological imagination in situations of human conflict and injustice, especially for the poor and vulnerable populations. The poor and vulnerable can have hope that things can eventually change. It can be the promise that people that are poor and vulnerable need for others to help them in need situations. This eschatological imagination can help everyone better their lives and have a complete integral human development. The world needs everyone to complete this integral human development because once an individual completes this individuals promote their full potential. In Chile, the regime should impose this instead of creating the negativity that there is around society. Jesus Christ vision incorporated this. It incorporated trust, peace, love, and helping others.