Abstract:
In the past decades it has emerged more clearly than before that Christian religion, which has
so often contributed to human oppression, has rich theological resources that can be used to
restore and perfect human freedom. These resources have been reflected upon not only by
liberation theologians, but also within the ecumenically oriented theology of religions which
targets what Hans Küng calls global responsibility based on global ethics. World religions
have an essential role to play in rendering that global humanity more humane and free. The
only way to accomplish this task leads through ongoing dialogue, directed both ad intra and
ad extra, in the pursuit of a ‘global ecumenism’ which the present suggests and the future
demands. For those liberating and unitive resources inherent in religious theory and praxis
to be activated, fundamental trust in the reality of the world and of one’s own self appears
indispensable. By deepening the theological insights of Hans Küng and David Tracy, the
article seeks to explore the mutual correlation between such fundamental trust in reality and
religious faith in God, interpreted from a Christian perspective. Firstly, I probe the notion of
fundamental trust from the existentialist and specifically Christian (theological) standpoints.
Secondly, I examine both the positive and the negative consequences that fundamental (mis)
trust may have for religiosity. Finally, the Christian interpretation of fundamental trust as
correlated to faith in God is reflected upon in terms of global ecumenism and its response to
the needs of our radically pluralistic moment.
