Tigern som tolkar. Konfrontationer i Gustaf Wingrens teologi med särskild hänsyn till teologins uppgift inom universitet, samhälle och kyrka

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to represent and critically analyse the theology of the Swedish theologian and professor in Lund, Gustaf Wingren (1910-2000), with special reference to his confrontational views on the role of theology at the university, in society and in church. The Lundensian school was famous for demonstrating a strictly scientific character of theology as an objective argumentation. For Anders Nygren, theology was a descriptive science, an immediate observation of the appearance of Christianity in history. His method was a presuppositional analysis in a given area of experience. According to him, theology has to work like any other historical investigation and not approach the historical material with indifferent kinds of questions. Wingren did not follow Nygren´s line. He turned the main stream of Swedish theological thought away from the traditional Lundensian school and combined historical research with systematic theological concerns and was in a critical debate with his contemporary theologians but he also adapted many of their ideas. He became a kerygmatic theologian with a creative insight of his own and he developed a sacramental, biblical Word Theology as a presupposition for the right interpretation of the kerygma. His theological stance became a combination of the theology of the Word of God like the Barthians - a theology influenced by existentialist modes of thinking - and confessional Lutheran in his interpretation of the faith of the Scripture. Wingren became thereby the leading figure on the theological scene in Sweden for several years, but today can his theological influence be questioned. His resistance to permit external disciplines to describe the nature of Christianity has made it difficult to activate a theological and academic dialogue in Sweden. His method is too intra-theological and therefore inadequate for modern theological discourse. Nevertheless, Wingren remains one of the most important theologians in Sweden, one who has had great impact on Swedish theology and the Swedish Church. But his views about ecumenical issues show a lack of interest in ecumenical exchange and instead expresses legitimacy of diversity. Therefore, his ecclesiology is inadequate for ecumenical discourse. The same can be said about his view on ethical issues. It is far too dependent upon an old-fashioned Lutheran thought on the Christian life as receptive and suffering to be of social guidance.