The How-To Book of Catholic Theology


Book Description

"Everyone's a theologian, because everyone believes something about God, even those who reject him. So the question is not whether we have a theology but whether that theology is true. And that's what makes this excellent book by Fr. John Cush so needed and helpful: It guides us in forming a true theology." — Brandon Vogt, author of Why I Am Catholic and Content Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries "Unlike the authors of most theology texts today, Fr. Cush knows that to understand anything about the divine, one must be properly intellectually, ecclesially, and even mystically conformed to Jesus Christ as encountered through his Mystical Body, the Church. These clear and concise pages outline precisely what that means, to love God by seeking him truly." — Fr. David Meconi, S.J., Director, Catholic Studies Centre, Saint Louis University and Editor, Homiletic & Pastoral Review As you'll learn in The How-to Book of Catholic Theology: Everything You Need to Know But No One Ever Taught You, theology at its core is about encountering God's self-revelation in Christ through the Church. In his clear, conversational style, theologian Father John Cush offers a comprehensive overview of Catholic theology, making it both approachable and actionable. In this complete guide you'll learn: Models (or styles) of being a theologian What you need to start your study of theology How to form a theological method How to use the tools of theology How to reconcile differences in theology How the study of theology leads to holiness of life The How-to Book of Catholic Theology also includes points to remember, recommended reading, and advice for building your personal theological library. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in Brooklyn, New York, Father John Patrick Cush is a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Ordained in 1998, he earned the Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, with a specialization in fundamental theology. Father Cush currently serves as academic dean and as a formation advisor at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City-State. He is an adjunct assistant professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and an adjunct professor of Church History at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, both in Rome, Italy. Father Cush writes regularly for the National Catholic Register, The Tablet, The Evangelist, and Homiletic & Pastoral Review. He has served as a parish priest, high school teacher, and a Censor of Books for his diocese. This is his first book.




An Introduction to Catholic Theology


Book Description

"What is Catholic theology? In order to reach an answer, the authors use various definitions of theology to identify the principal elements of the discipline, elements that include the human person, faith, the scriptures, philosophy, morality and everyday human experience. The authors also provide examples from the history of theology to highlight the dynamic nature of Catholic theology and its evolution in a variety of cultural and historical settings."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved




Catholic Theology After Kierkegaard


Book Description

Although he is not always recognized as such, Soren Kierkegaard has been an important ally for Catholic theologians in the early twentieth century. Moreover, understanding this relationship and its origins offers valuable resources and insights to contemporary Catholic theology. Of course, there are some negative preconceptions to overcome. Historically, some Catholic readers have been suspicious of Kierkegaard, viewing him as an irrational Protestant irreconcilably at odds with Catholic thought. Nevertheless, the favorable mention of Kierkegaard in John Paul II's Fides et Ratio is an indication that Kierkegaard's writings are not so easily dismissed. Catholic Theology after Kierkegaard investigates the writings of emblematic Catholic thinkers in the twentieth century to assess their substantial engagement with Kierkegaard's writings. Joshua Furnal argues that Kierkegaard's writings have stimulated reform and renewal in twentieth-century Catholic theology, and should continue to do so today. To demonstrate Kierkegaard's relevance in pre-conciliar Catholic theology, Furnal examines the wider evidence of a Catholic reception of Kierkegaard in the early twentieth century--looking specifically at influential figures like Theodor Haecker, Romano Guardini, Erich Przywara, and other Roman Catholic thinkers that are typically associated with the ressourcement movement. In particular, Furnal focuses upon the writings of Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and the Italian Thomist, Cornelio Fabro as representative entry points.




Roman Catholic Theology and Practice


Book Description

In this balanced volume, Gregg Allison—an evangelical theologian and church historian—helps readers understand the nuances of Roman Catholic teaching. Walking through the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, Allison summarizes and assesses Catholic doctrine from the perspective of both Scripture and evangelical theology. Noting prominent similarities without glossing over key differences, this book will equip Christians on both sides of the ecclesiastical divide to fruitfully engage in honest dialogue with one another.




Catholic Theology


Book Description

Introduction to Catholic Theology is an accessible but in-depth examination of the ways in which Catholic theology is rooted in and informs Catholic practice. Weaves together discussion of the Bible, historical texts, reflections by important theologians, and contemporary debates for a nuanced look at belief and practice within the Catholic faith Provides an overview of all major theological areas, including scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, and moral theology Appropriate for students at all levels, assuming no prior knowledge yet providing enough insight and substance to interest those more familiar with the topic Written in a dynamic, engaging style by two professors with more than 50 years of classroom experience between them




Handbook of Catholic Theology


Book Description

This volume, a nuanced introduction to the core concepts in Catholic theology, features 337 entries. Beinert, professor of dogmatics at the University of Regensburg, Germany, was editor of the original version. Fiorenza is the Charles Chauncey Stillman professor of Roman Catholic theology at the Harvard Divinity School. The project features six main divisions: "Contemporary Issues," "Biblical Background," "History of Theology," "Church Teaching," "Ecumenical Perspectives," and "Systematic Reflections." Citations are easy to follow, including biblical passages and various church documents. With helpful tables and indices, this volume represents a richer, deeper treatment of many issues than is found in other dictionaries of theology.




A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century


Book Description

This is an historical survey of 20th Century Roman Catholic Theological Ethics (also known as moral theology). The thesis is that only through historical investigation can we really understand how the most conservative and negative field in Catholic theology at the beginning of the 20th could become by the end of the 20th century the most innovative one. The 20th century begins with moral manuals being translated into the vernacular. After examining the manuals of Thomas Slater and Henry Davis, Keenan then turns to three works and a crowning synthesis of innovation all developed before, during and soon after the Second World War. The first by Odon Lottin asks whether moral theology is adequately historical; Fritz Tillmann asks whether it's adequately biblical; and Gerard Gilleman, whether it's adequately spiritual. Bernard Haering integrates these contributions into his Law of Christ. Of course, people like Gerald Kelly and John Ford in the US are like a few moralists elsewhere, classical gate keepers, censoring innovation. But with Humanae vitae, and successive encyclicals, bishops and popes reject the direction of moral theologians. At the same time, moral theologians, like Josef Fuchs, ask whether the locus of moral truth is in continuous, universal teachings of the magisterium or in the moral judgment of the informed conscience. In their move toward a deeper appreciation of their field as forming consciences, they turn more deeply to local experience where they continue their work of innovation. Each continent subsequently gives rise to their own respondents: In Europe they speak of autonomy and personalism; in Latin America, liberation theology; in North America, Feminism and Black Catholic theology; and, in Asia and Africa a deep post-colonial interculturatism. At the end I assert that in its nature, theological ethics is historical and innovative, seeking moral truth for the conscience by looking to speak crossculturally.







Why Believe?


Book Description

Establishing the identity and meaning of Jesus as the perfect revelation of God, Why Believe? examines the nature of theology, God, faith, scripture, the Church, spirituality, and morality.




Called to Be the Children of God


Book Description

This book gathers fourteen Catholic scholars to present, examine, and explain the often misunderstood process of ""deification"". The fifteen chapters show what becoming God meant for the early Church, for St. Thomas Aquinas and the greatest Dominicans, and for St. Francis and the early Franciscans. This book explains how this understanding of salvation played out during the Protestant Reformation and the Council of Trent. It explores the thought of the French School of Spirituality, various Thomists, John Henry Newman, John Paul II, and the Vatican Councils, and it shows where such thinking can be found today in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. No other book has gathered such an array of scholars or provided such a deep study into how humanity's divinized life in Christ has received many rich and various perspectives over the past two thousand years. This book seeks to bring readers into the central mystery of Christianity by allowing the Church's greatest thinkers and texts to speak for themselves, demonstrating how becoming Christ-like and the Body of Christ on earth, is the only ultimate purpose of the Christian faith.