ABSTRACT
If one had affirmed a hundred, or even fifty, years ago that the dominant religions in Europe could continue to exist without having to contain explicitly within themselves faith in God, this would have only evoked laughter or a head-shake. We have come so far today that occasionally even bishops put in question the traditional faith in an almighty God, and they nonetheless continue to be representatives of the official Church and to identify themselves as Christians. In view of these facts, the question is raised about the permanent substance of religion. According to an expansive modern conception, the divine expresses itself only in the community of humans, in their encounter and relations. The supposition of a God that exists independently of this human figure, who surpasses and grounds it, becomes problematic. Such a God no longer forms part, so it seems, of what we call religion.
