Abstract

Karl Rahner (1904–1984) has exercised a profound influence on Catholic theology. This paper reconstructs both why and how Rahner’s ideas were received in the United States since the 1950s. American theologians did much more than simply repeat what the German Jesuit had outlined. Rather, they made use of his thought in order to do theology constructively. Thus, even today Rahner’s influence in the US is quite noticeable.