What do you think?
Rate this book
Catholic Theology
Rowland showcases here the dominant contemporary approaches to doing Catholic theology. Chapter 1 offers a summary of the two International Theological Commission (ITC) documents on the discipline of Catholic theology. These documents set out the general principles which should govern any approach to Catholic theology (at least according to the ITC). The subsequent chapters each focus on one of four different approaches frequently found in contemporary Catholic the approach of Thomists, members of the Communio milieu, members of the Concilium milieu and promoters of different varieties of Liberation Theology.
Rowland's work is pitched at the level of first time students of theology who are trying to make sense of the methodological choices which undergird the different approaches to Catholic theology.
Rowland concludes with four a list of all Doctors of the Church, a list of all encyclicals since the 19th century, a list of the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and a list of definitions of the various Christological heresies which were the subject of the debates of the early Church Councils.
These appendices will provide useful reference tables for young scholars, including seminarians.
Rowland's work is pitched at the level of first time students of theology who are trying to make sense of the methodological choices which undergird the different approaches to Catholic theology.
Rowland concludes with four a list of all Doctors of the Church, a list of all encyclicals since the 19th century, a list of the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and a list of definitions of the various Christological heresies which were the subject of the debates of the early Church Councils.
These appendices will provide useful reference tables for young scholars, including seminarians.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 9, 2012
32 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Rowland
34 books12 followersTracey Rowland holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (Australia). She is also an Honorary Fellow of Campion College, Sydney and a member of the editorial board of Communio: International Catholic Review.
From 2014-2019 she was a member of the Ninth International Theological Commission. In 2020 she won the Ratzinger Prize for theology.
She holds degrees in law and political philosophy as well as two doctorates in theology: one from the Divinity School of Cambridge University and the other pontifical doctorate (STD) from the Lateran University in Rome.
From 2014-2019 she was a member of the Ninth International Theological Commission. In 2020 she won the Ratzinger Prize for theology.
She holds degrees in law and political philosophy as well as two doctorates in theology: one from the Divinity School of Cambridge University and the other pontifical doctorate (STD) from the Lateran University in Rome.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 3, 2017
I'm not a theology student, or even a Christian, but I was looking for something that would help explain why different accounts of Catholic thinkers like Aquinas and Duns Scotus seemed so widely divergent. Rowland's book really helped clarify what the differences are, and why they are significant.
The explanation of the central issues of theology was helpful, and the account of the different versions of Thomism really cleared up some confusion for me (some "Thomist" thinkers had seemed to me to be pratctially Calvinist, and I couldn't make sense of this). For me, the most interesting part of the book was the discussion of the difference between the Coommunio and Concilium approaches to 20th century Catholic theology.
I will say that certain things about the book made me a bit wary. Rowland's fears of, and gross misunderstanding of, Marxism, for one. She suggests that in the 20th century about half of all college professors were marxists. As an American, who has studied at or worked at nine universities over thirty years, this seems and odd statement to me. I've been at institutions from community colleges to the Ivy League, and among the several hundred college professors I've known, I've met only three marxists. But then, Rowland isn't in America--maybe the situation is different in Europe or Australia? Or perhpas this fear of marxist just has something to do with the current Pope?
The bigger concern is that Rowland too often explains a theological position in the words of its opponents. This sometimes leaves me doubtful about whether she is presenting it fairly, and since I'm not a theologian myself, I can't really say.
Overall, though, I found the book extremely helpful, not more difficult to follow than its enormous subject requires, and full of useful suggestion for where to go for further reading. As I said, I'm not a theology student, but an outsider curious about Catholic thought, so I can't say how useful this would be for someone more knowledgeable than I am. For me, it clarified a number of matters, and inspired me to look into some questions in further depth.
The explanation of the central issues of theology was helpful, and the account of the different versions of Thomism really cleared up some confusion for me (some "Thomist" thinkers had seemed to me to be pratctially Calvinist, and I couldn't make sense of this). For me, the most interesting part of the book was the discussion of the difference between the Coommunio and Concilium approaches to 20th century Catholic theology.
I will say that certain things about the book made me a bit wary. Rowland's fears of, and gross misunderstanding of, Marxism, for one. She suggests that in the 20th century about half of all college professors were marxists. As an American, who has studied at or worked at nine universities over thirty years, this seems and odd statement to me. I've been at institutions from community colleges to the Ivy League, and among the several hundred college professors I've known, I've met only three marxists. But then, Rowland isn't in America--maybe the situation is different in Europe or Australia? Or perhpas this fear of marxist just has something to do with the current Pope?
The bigger concern is that Rowland too often explains a theological position in the words of its opponents. This sometimes leaves me doubtful about whether she is presenting it fairly, and since I'm not a theologian myself, I can't really say.
Overall, though, I found the book extremely helpful, not more difficult to follow than its enormous subject requires, and full of useful suggestion for where to go for further reading. As I said, I'm not a theology student, but an outsider curious about Catholic thought, so I can't say how useful this would be for someone more knowledgeable than I am. For me, it clarified a number of matters, and inspired me to look into some questions in further depth.
May 6, 2021
This is a good introduction to post-conciliar Roman Catholic Theology. Tracey Rowland covers a wide range of theological schools, from the varieties of Thomism to Liberation Theology, and tries to make a list of central family resemblances that would form a sort of common denominator among Roman Catholic theologians. Her deep knowledge of Ratzinger's theology informs almost every chapter and his perspectives on particular theological movements are clearly privileged (among other Communio theologians). As I will expand below, this may be a shortcoming, but makes this book a wonderful resource for students — like me — interested in this particular school of Catholic Theology
However, I think two omissions prevent me from giving five stars to this title. First, almost all pre-Vatican II theologians are barely mentioned and, when they do (even central figures like Augustine and Aquinas) the focus is on their reception. This pattern is replicated with ecumenical councils, theological movements, papal declarations and other typical Roman Catholic sources of authority. The apex of this particular omission would be the engagement with Scripture — not only simply ignoring all biblical theologians that served the Roman Catholic church during the 20th century, luminaries like Raymond Brown, Joseph Fitzmeyer and Roland Murphy, but not relating these developments with all Vatican II changes. Moreover, the second main omission was a failure to make space to a careful reply to Communion criticism of other schools. No one can fault an author for her identification with a particular school of thought, but it's reasonable to expect a thoughtful engagement that includes responses to typical objections when one proposes to present objectively another school of thought.
I sincerely believe that this work is a helpful introduction to post-Vatican II Roman Catholic (dogmatic) theology (through a Communio/nouvelle theologie/Ratzingerian perspective perhaps). I found myself yearning for more in several places, anxious to hear Rowland's take on a number of topics that may have been abbreviated due to editorial reasons (e.g. what she dubbed "analytical thomism" and that gets barely half a page). I do hope to see a second edition of this work that fills these omissions, since it would then consist of one of the best introductions available to Roman Catholic Theology.
However, I think two omissions prevent me from giving five stars to this title. First, almost all pre-Vatican II theologians are barely mentioned and, when they do (even central figures like Augustine and Aquinas) the focus is on their reception. This pattern is replicated with ecumenical councils, theological movements, papal declarations and other typical Roman Catholic sources of authority. The apex of this particular omission would be the engagement with Scripture — not only simply ignoring all biblical theologians that served the Roman Catholic church during the 20th century, luminaries like Raymond Brown, Joseph Fitzmeyer and Roland Murphy, but not relating these developments with all Vatican II changes. Moreover, the second main omission was a failure to make space to a careful reply to Communion criticism of other schools. No one can fault an author for her identification with a particular school of thought, but it's reasonable to expect a thoughtful engagement that includes responses to typical objections when one proposes to present objectively another school of thought.
I sincerely believe that this work is a helpful introduction to post-Vatican II Roman Catholic (dogmatic) theology (through a Communio/nouvelle theologie/Ratzingerian perspective perhaps). I found myself yearning for more in several places, anxious to hear Rowland's take on a number of topics that may have been abbreviated due to editorial reasons (e.g. what she dubbed "analytical thomism" and that gets barely half a page). I do hope to see a second edition of this work that fills these omissions, since it would then consist of one of the best introductions available to Roman Catholic Theology.
April 8, 2019
Mixed feelings.
On the one hand, it's a very useful guide if one wants to understand the various theological "teams" in the post-conciliar world. It talks about communio theology, the RO crowd, the various stripes of Thomists etc. (Basically, the "reform" section of the Church, anti-liberal but not traditionalist.) It also deals with the (allegedly) liberal faction (Concilium journal, Rahner, Schillebeeckx, Metz.) And lastly, it deals with liberation theology (which it seems to treat as merely a Latin American "extension" of European liberal theology.)
On the other hand, the author is incredibly biased toward the communio side. Which by itself would be fine except for the fact that the author seems to treat the so-called liberal theologians (and liberation theologians) with barely disguised scorn. She doesn't seem to deal with them in an entirely fair and good-faith manner. (Though, fwiw, some of her criticisms are... legitimate.) Anyways, even as someone who is sympathetic to the author, I found it off-putting.
Tracey Rowland...the anti-Richard McBrien?
On the one hand, it's a very useful guide if one wants to understand the various theological "teams" in the post-conciliar world. It talks about communio theology, the RO crowd, the various stripes of Thomists etc. (Basically, the "reform" section of the Church, anti-liberal but not traditionalist.) It also deals with the (allegedly) liberal faction (Concilium journal, Rahner, Schillebeeckx, Metz.) And lastly, it deals with liberation theology (which it seems to treat as merely a Latin American "extension" of European liberal theology.)
On the other hand, the author is incredibly biased toward the communio side. Which by itself would be fine except for the fact that the author seems to treat the so-called liberal theologians (and liberation theologians) with barely disguised scorn. She doesn't seem to deal with them in an entirely fair and good-faith manner. (Though, fwiw, some of her criticisms are... legitimate.) Anyways, even as someone who is sympathetic to the author, I found it off-putting.
Tracey Rowland...the anti-Richard McBrien?
January 11, 2019
This book provides the reader with a thorough understanding of the 4 major intellectual approaches to doing Catholic Theology in the Church Today. I found the sections on the Communio approach, Concilium alternative, and Liberation Theology incredibly informative whereas the section on Thomism was somewhat confusing due to all the slight nuances across that approach towards hermeneutics. All and all, I would definitely recommend this book to any young Catholic trying to get a better grasp around the different modes of theology.
April 14, 2018
Very helpful
December 16, 2019
Informative, concise, and edifying.
December 7, 2022
Excellent overview. Her explanation of the periodicals that arose out of Vatican II was so helpful to situate characters in contemporary catholic theology and their general positions.
January 17, 2023
Excelente panorama de la teología actual, escrita por una gran teologa australiana.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews