Catholic Theology In Catholic Colleges

[qfnol31]

I was disappointed with a conversation I had earlier today about my old theology department. I think that solid, orthodox Catholic theology is a must!

I say that Orthodox professors are those in line with the local Bishop (and perhaps with [i]Ecclesia Dei[/i], though this is not necessary) and have a [i]Mandatum[/i] which they uphold.

[missionseeker]

I don't know that I'd say is an open option and available as much as should be explained so that it's understood why they are wrong and the Church is right.

(coming from a mandatum school)

[qfnol31]

I started this thread because today I was deeply saddened by a conversation with old classmates. I made a general comment that a few professors with (close to) heretical theology had left UD recently and the school was better for it, and someone said that I was out of line for saying that. One girl said my comment was too general, but when I pressed the issue, the guy seemed to think that obedience to the local Ordinary (who is great by the way) and an emphasis on Catholic theology are not necessarily the best thing for the shcool.

The trend in Catholic schools today seems to be away from the Catholic identity in theology.

I was saddened because that was one of my favourite parts of UD while I was there and because I hope to be a theology professor one day, but it seems that their theology is in very low demand here in the states...

In addition, these weren't theology majors, so it almost sounded like me saying that all English classes should mostly ignore Jane Austen and should use Diane Carey alongside Dostoevsky. If you don't know who Diane Carey is, check this out: [url="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/diane-carey/"]http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/diane-carey/[/url]

Edited February 3, 2008 by qfnol31

[Veritas]

+

The Pope, John Paul II, has already answered this question in the Papal Apostolic Constitution:

[url="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html"]http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_pau...clesiae_en.html[/url]

[Alycin]

I chose "other" because I think it should be a given that Catholic theology is first and foremost, and taught as truth, but students need to have understandings of other religions. It's kind of silly to be clueless to other religions and then expect people to take you seriously when you say you KNOW that Catholicism is the one true faith.

Just my 2 cents.

[Laudate_Dominum]

I voted for, "orthodox Catholic theology should be taught before all else, and no other theology should interfere with the Catholic theology, though other theology is available and an option", but I wouldn't say that other theology should be available as an option. If I had signed up to learn Catholic theology I would expect this to be the subject of study and that learning about heretical doctrines or other religions would be at the service of this aim not in competition with it.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='qfnol31' post='1454739' date='Feb 2 2008, 11:01 PM']I was disappointed with a conversation I had earlier today about my old theology department. I think that solid, orthodox Catholic theology is a must!

I say that Orthodox professors are those in line with the local Bishop (and perhaps with [i]Ecclesia Dei[/i], though this is not necessary) and have a [i]Mandatum[/i] which they uphold.[/quote]
You don't mean UD, do you?

UD isn't so orthodox anymore? I'm asking because Jen and I may be in their grad program soon.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' post='1455779' date='Feb 5 2008, 11:28 AM']I voted for, "orthodox Catholic theology should be taught before all else, and no other theology should interfere with the Catholic theology, though other theology is available and an option", but I wouldn't say that other theology should be available as an option. If I had signed up to learn Catholic theology I would expect this to be the subject of study and that learning about heretical doctrines or other religions would be at the service of this aim not in competition with it.[/quote]
I disagree. Of course, I would not at all want to follow other religions, but I think that if one is committed to orthodox Catholic teaching and risks no scandal or dissension by learning about other religions, then one is a better theologian for knowing the theologies of different faiths. The more I learn about Islam, for instance, the more certain I am that being Christian is correct. Negatively speaking, studying other religions teaches me more about Catholicism when I can recognize in them what Catholicism, gladly, is not.

[Autumn Dusk]

People need to understand Catholic Theology, but in a growing global environment it would be unwise not to instruct Catholic students in the theology and religious beliefs of others without bias. A catholic institution which dosn't teach about any other religion is only setting itself up for students who graduate without understanding, and perhaps compassion, of other religions. They can't make connections and bridge the gap to our faith, thus winning converts, if they don't know other religion's belief's.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1456339' date='Feb 6 2008, 10:48 AM']You don't mean UD, do you?

UD isn't so orthodox anymore? I'm asking because Jen and I may be in their grad program soon.[/quote]

Oh no, UD IS orthodox. That was my comment. It just seemed that a few students didn't care very much about the loss of the unorthodox professors because they were good professors.

Maybe we misunderstood each other? You would do well to look into their graduate program.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1456340' date='Feb 6 2008, 11:53 AM']I disagree. Of course, I would not at all want to follow other religions, but I think that if one is committed to orthodox Catholic teaching and risks no scandal or dissension by learning about other religions, then one is a better theologian for knowing the theologies of different faiths. The more I learn about Islam, for instance, the more certain I am that being Christian is correct. Negatively speaking, studying other religions teaches me more about Catholicism when I can recognize in them what Catholicism, gladly, is not.[/quote]
I'm not convinced that you do disagree with me from these statements. If a theology program actually teaches orthodox Catholicism and yet the institution at large offers classes in other religions as a matter of academic interest I would not object to this. Added to this I would say that the beliefs of other religions and of heretical sects would be a part of a well-rounded theological education but taught from a Catholic perspective in this case (I’ve already indicated this in my previous post). What I object to are ultra-inclusive "religious studies" programs that are pawned off as authentically Catholic. If the curriculum is designed according to an all-inclusive religious philosophy rather than orthodox Catholicism it is flawed in my opinion but a curriculum that does justice to orthodox Catholic education would not on principle exclude knowledge of other religions. I would disagree if you are suggesting that the systematic study of other religions is necessary or even always desirable. It would not be possible to study biblical theology in depth without learning much about ancient Judaism and similarly it would be deficient to study historical theology without learning a good bit about paganism, Islam, heresies and the like, but I believe that dogmatics can be taught quite well without venturing far from the specifically Christian scope of religious belief and the study of Catholic theology in general would probably be distracted by trying to introduce the world religions at large. Comparative religion is certainly interesting and valuable, but it is not absolutely integral to the proper study of Catholic theology and if a theology program is defined in terms of comparative religion I would say it is most probably lacking in salience at the very least.
I also disagree that one is necessarily a better Catholic theologian for learning of non-Catholic and non-Christian theological doctrines. Of course this can be true in many instances, but it must be qualified and preceded by adequate formation in the faith to reap any rewards. There are plenty of people with degrees in Catholic theology, and even professors of Catholic theology, who are ignorant of many basic teachings of the faith. Learning more about Buddhism and Shinto would be of no avail. Of course you don’t believe this, but I am only suggesting the qualification here that a program of study which claims to result in an adequate understanding of Catholic theology ought to really have that as its goal and principle. Given the lax nature of higher education I see little room for a meaningful exploration of other religions apart from specialized programs of study, but of course I have been speaking of a general Catholic theology program.
A simpler illustration would be the case where I enroll and spend thousands of dollars and years of my life to attain expertise in Russian history. Certainly I would expect to learn something of the history of other nations as well insofar as it was pertinent to the subject at hand. If the curriculum were cluttered with all-inclusive diversions of world history I would be cheated. Of course if pertinent studies of other nations that impacted the study of Russian history were excluded I would be cheated. It is the same to my mind with Catholic theology although one difference is that the specialized study of history presupposes a foundation in the general study of history whereas the study of Catholic theology does not, and need not; presuppose the study of world religions in general, even if there could be much theoretical value in this.

[icelandic_iceskater]

o wow this is an old thread. How did it get bumped without someone posting in it?

at my #1 choice school the professors have received a mandatum from their bishop, the school is also a seminary, and they still have issues with their theology.

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='icelandic_iceskater' post='1765562' date='Jan 29 2009, 09:44 AM']o wow this is an old thread. How did it get bumped without someone posting in it?

at my #1 choice school the professors have received a mandatum from their bishop, the school is also a seminary, and they still have issues with their theology. [/quote]

Which school are you looking at? Sounds a bit like the Mount, where I go.

My University is certainly growing in high esteem in the area of Catholic Identity, but it seems that Theology Department is slow to jump on the train. Most of it is simply a strange emphasis, rather than direct heresy, but there are a few profs in the department that have and do teach certain things that are against Catholic teaching. It's frustrating.

On the other hand, our philosophy department is amazing. Granted, our phil. department also trains seminarians, so it kind of has to be, since it has bishop over-sight.

Personally, I think orthodox, Catholic theology is a must at a Catholic university offering a theology degree. I think other religions ought to be taught in light of Catholicism being true and that there shouldn't be "other" theology degrees available. There can be classes, electives, offered on other religions... but they should also keep in mind the truth of Catholicism.

[ilovechrist]

our school actually balances this well within the Theology department--
Catholic Theology has indeed a resound emphasis throughout the curriculum (all teachers in this department are required to take an oath of fidelity), but they are not afraid to explain the background behind other traditions in order for students to know "where the other side is coming from". our Protestant Traditions course is one of the best i have ever taken, for i now FINALLY KNOW what my Protestant friends are talking about when they try to talk theology!

Edited January 29, 2009 by ilovechrist

[icelandic_iceskater]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' post='1765631' date='Jan 29 2009, 11:13 AM']Which school are you looking at? Sounds a bit like the Mount, where I go.[/quote]
Marian college in Indianapolis. Their theology's twisted, but their philosophy's fine.

"the mount" wouldn't happen to be Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI would it? I've recently been looking into that school.