Reconsidering Paradigm Shifts as an Ecumenical Tool: The Irruption and Eruption in Breaking Bread

Here, an overview of Hans Küng's understanding of paradigm shifts in theology is provided with a focus on its ecumenical aims. In the analysis of paradigm shifts as an ecumenical tool the strengths and weakness of this approach are presented, largely indicating that though paradigm shifts seem to occur and offer possibilities for ecumenism, there are problems with how Küng elaborates his programme. To strengthen the case for the occurrence of paradigm shifts in Christianity a reflection is offered, in germ, on the role that irruption and eruption play in Eucharistic bread-breaking, where the irruption of brokenness and confusion is made whole in a new way via the eruption of the Spirit.