Short Courses in Theology

Transcription

1 Short Courses in Theology Existence, Faith and Theology Dr Maeve Louise Heaney 27 July 2015

2 Existence, Faith and Theology Human Existence What does it mean to be human? Faith What is faith? Is faith for everyone? Is it a positive or negative force? What is Christian faith? Theology What role does theology have in relation to Christian faith? What does it mean to 'think theologically'?

3 Existence, Faith and Theology

4 Existence, Faith and Theology The root reason for human dignity lies in humanity's call to communion with God. From the very circumstance of their origin human beings are already invited to converse with God. For humanity would not exist were it not created by Gods love and constantly preserved by it; and we cannot live fully according to truth unless we freely acknowledge that love and devote ourselves to our Creator Gaudium et Spes 19

5 Existence, Faith and Theology The obedience of faith (Rom. 13:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) "is to be given to God who reveals is to be given to God who reveals, an obedience by which human beings commit their whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals," and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of the mind and giving "joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and believing it." To bring about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the same Holy Spirit constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts. Dei Verbum 5

6 Theology Etymology θeologίa, θeolόgoς, θeologeîn Root: θeoς and lόgoς - God and word/ intelligibility

7 Oxford Dictionary: Yves Congar: John Macquarrie: Latourelle: Thomas Aquinas: St. Anselm (XI): Bernard Lonergan Theology the study of the nature of God and religious belief: reasoned account of God God-talk. Knowledge that has God as its object, or knowledge of God. according to its etymology means teaching concerning God science of God [Summa Theologica]. Faith seeking Understanding Theology mediates between a cultural matrix and the significance and role of a religion in that matrix.

8 Theology Faith Seeking Understanding St Anselm XII Century A theology mediates between a cultural matrix and the significance and role of a religion in that matrix. Bernard Lonergan Theology is faith seeking an understanding of itself and its beliefs so as to mediate between a given cultural matrix and the significance and role of the religion it reflects upon within that matrix

9 Theology Theology [insider] Religious studies [outsider] brings a variety of disciplinary perspectives to bear on the phenomenon of religion for the purpose of understanding and interpreting the history, literature, thought, social structures, and practices of the religious traditions of the world. [Stanford University] Religious Studies is the exploration of the expression of religion in human culture. It explores human ideas about the divine, as well as the way religious concepts are expressed in texts, rituals, and belief systems. It studies the history of religion as well as important religious figures. It analyses the influence of religion on other aspects of culture. [Memorial University]

10 What is Theology Church Theology Culture

11 What is Theology In the past C Theology C

12 What is Theology Now Church T Culture

13 What is Theology In the past... Deductive: Premises unquestioned Static: translation passing on of a heritage Eternal: in its linguistic and cultural expression

14 What is Theology Now... Empirical: Drawn also from experience [epistemological issues] Dynamic: awareness of change more helpful to Catholic apprehension Historical: not opposite to eternal (Universale Concretum Jesus of Nazareth)

15 What is Theology Now Revelation: Sacred Scripture Tradition

16 What is Theology Now Human Experience/ Changing Sensibility: Plurality of Contexts Postmodernity Reason - world of Specialized Knowledge Radicalisations or extremes

17 What is Theology Now Revelation: Sacred Scripture (in and through) Tradition Human Experience/ Changing Sensibility: Plurality of Contexts Postmodernity Reason - world of Faculty of Specialized Theology and Philosophy Knowledge Radicalisations or extremes

18 What is Theology Now Revelation: Sacred Scripture (in and through) Tradition Human Experience/ Changing Sensibility: Plurality of Contexts Postmodernity Faculty of Reason Theology - world and Philosophy of Australian Specialized Catholic University Knowledge Radicalisations or extremes

19 Why Theology? Just as Theology in the 13 th century followed its age by assimilating Aristotle; just as Theology of the 17 th century resisted its age by retiring into a dogmatic corner, so Theology today is locked in an encounter with its age. Whether it will grow and triumph or whether it will wither to insignificance depends in no small measure on the clarity and accuracy of its grasp of the external cultural factors that undermine its past achievements and challenge it to new endeavours. Bernard Lonergan

20 Why Theology Always be ready to give reason for the hope that sustains you 1 Peter 3: 15 This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one, only Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. Mk 12: 29-30

21 Why Theology Enlargement of Mind In default of a recognized term, I have called the perfection or virtue of the intellect by the name of philosophy, philosophical knowledge, enlargement of mind, or illumination but, whatever name we bestow on it, it is, I believe, as a matter of history, the business of a University to make this intellectual culture its direct scope, or to employ itself in the education of the intellect. And therefore a truly great intellect is one which takes a connected view of old and new, past and present, far and near, and which has an insight into the influence of all these one on another; without which there is no whole, and no centre. Blessed John Henry Newman

22 Faith Faith What is faith? Is faith for everyone? Is it a positive or negative force? What is Christian faith? What do you think of when I say: faith?

23 Faith Heb 11: 6 the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen.

24 Existence, Faith and Theology The obedience of faith (Rom. 13:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) "is to be given to God who reveals is to be given to God who reveals, an obedience by which human beings commit their whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals," and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of the mind and giving "joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and believing it." To bring about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the same Holy Spirit constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts. Dei Verbum 5

25 Existence, Faith and Theology Dei Verbum on Revelation In God s goodness and wisdom God chose to reveal Godself and to make known to us the hidden purpose of His will by which through Christ, the Word made flesh, man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature. Through this revelation, therefore, the invisible God out of the abundance of love speaks to human beings as friends and lives among them, so that He may invite and take them into fellowship with Godself. This plan of revelation is realized by deeds and words having an inner unity: the deeds wrought by God in the history of Faculty salvation of manifest Theology and and confirm Philosophy the teaching and realities signified by the words, Australian while Catholic the words University proclaim the deeds and clarify the mystery contained in them. By this revelation then, the deepest truth about God and the salvation of man shines out for our sake in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation. Dei Verbum 2

26 Existence, Faith and Theology Insofar as it is assent, faith means the acceptance of a revealed message on the word of the divine revealer insofar as it is trust, it involves self-surrender into the hands of God and confidence in God as the saviour who is utterly faithful to his promises. Insofar as it is commitment, it involves an intention to conform one s conduct to the values and norms established by revelation, to be a doer and not just a hearer of the Word. Faith is a yes to a yes Avery Dulles Michael Paul Gallagher

27 Faith The dynamics of faith 1. To believe God: Credere Deum of fides quae [short for] fides quae creditur 2. To believe in God (trust): Credere Deo fides qua creditur; the faith by which we believe 3. Credere in Deum: to believe into God; practical Intellectual Affective Ethical/ behavioural

28 Theology offerings at ACU Certificate in Theology (4 units) Bachelor of Theology (24 units) Graduate Certificate in Catholic Studies (4 units and gives accreditation for teaching) Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (4 units) Master in Theological Studies (8 units) Master of Theology (Research) and PhD.