Cur Deus homo und die vom Ordnungsdenken geprägte Theologie Anselms

Cur Deus homo has shaped the history of Western theology more than almost any other medieval text, yet it has also been the target of persistent critique. Modern interpretations often accuse Anselm of subordinating divine freedom and love to human categories of satisfaction and justice. Jonathan Flämig offers a fresh reading by situating CDH firmly within Anselm's conception of order. Central to this framework are the ontological gap between Creator and creature, the unique status of human beings as rational images of God, and the conviction that being implies obligation - rectitudo meaning the concord of essence and action. Within this horizon, sin emerges as the violation of one's own creaturely nature, while reconciliation becomes the recovery of inner rightness. This interpretation demonstrates that Anselm's concern is not a juridical transaction but the existential restoration of communion with God. The author contextualizes this approach within Anselm's broader theology, highlighting the interrelations between Trinitarian thought, epistemology, hamartiology, and soteriology. In doing so, he shows that Cur Deus homo articulates a vision of salvation that transcends external categories and illuminates the inner freedom of humanity in dependence upon divine action.