Il professor Saarinen concentra la sua ricerca su due aree distinte: nell'ecumenismo, pubblica principalmente sui dialoghi bilaterali delle chiese luterane e aggiorna regolarmente la sua homepage sui vari dialoghi luterano-ortodossi in corso. Nella ricerca storica, pubblica sul pensiero del tardo medioevo, del Rinascimento e della Riforma. Il suo recente lavoro storico affronta i concetti di volontà, libertà e autocontrollo, la cosiddetta "psicologia filosofica", e le applicazioni teologiche dello scambio di doni, della gratitudine e dell'ospitalità. Come con la libertà e lo scambio di doni, in alcuni casi gli argomenti storici si intersecano con le discussioni ecumeniche e teologiche moderne.
Focusing on theological exegesis, this volume delves into the letters of 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Jude, providing insightful analysis and interpretation. It aims to illuminate the theological significance and context of these texts, making it a valuable resource for those studying the New Testament and its implications for faith and practice.
Exploring the often-overlooked act of giving, Risto Saarinen shifts the focus of theological and philosophical discussions from reception to the dynamics of giving. He presents a theology of giving that incorporates both classical and contemporary thought, examining concepts such as forgiveness, sacrifice, and imitation. By proposing new interpretations—like viewing forgiveness as negative giving—Saarinen highlights the ecumenical significance of this approach. The book serves as a guide for rethinking traditional issues through the lens of giving, offering insights for further exploration.
Exploring the intellectual history of religious recognition, this work extends beyond Hegel, tracing connections from the New Testament to contemporary thought. It examines how religious concepts have evolved alongside philosophical frameworks, offering a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between religion and philosophy throughout history.
This book explores the philosophical transition from the late Middle Ages to the early modern era, highlighting differing views on its impact on Enlightenment thought. It critiques the nostalgic perspectives on medieval ethics and emphasizes the rich diversity of moral theories between 1400 and 1600, challenging simplified historical narratives.
Recent anthropological, linguistic, and philosophical studies have significantly increased our understanding of the gift and related phenomena, such as hospitality and charity. While their results can only very carefully be applied to historical theological sources, they do resemble classical discussions on neighbourly love, the administration of sacraments, the handing over of tradition, free will, and God's mercy. In this book, Risto Saarinen studies Martin Luther's understanding of the gift and related issues, such as favours and benefits, faith and justification, virtues and merits, ethics and doctrine, law and Christ. The historical motivation behind this focus consists in the insight that Luther both continues and criticizes the classical, medieval, and Humanist discussions regarding the differences and parallels between gifts and sales. The gift is for the reformers a multidimensional concept that needs to be understood in many different contexts of the verb „give“. This historical understanding paves the way towards an adequate systematic theology of the gift.