The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process

This article explores the relatively theoretical question of what contribution academic theology is making to the synodal process and how this interaction might deepen in the years to come. It stresses the importance of what it calls foundational theological questions, employing the thought of the J...

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Main Author: Gerard Kevin Whelan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/11/1369
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author Gerard Kevin Whelan
author_facet Gerard Kevin Whelan
author_sort Gerard Kevin Whelan
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description This article explores the relatively theoretical question of what contribution academic theology is making to the synodal process and how this interaction might deepen in the years to come. It stresses the importance of what it calls foundational theological questions, employing the thought of the Jesuit philosopher and theologian Bernard Lonergan to define this term. It traces how a slow awareness of the importance of such questions, and an explicit attention to the question of theological method that is related to this, began emerging in the Second Vatican Council. It then suggests that such questions have come closer to the center of attention in the synodal process launched by Pope Francis. It proposes that the synodal process in the future will benefit by making further use of the thought of Lonergan. It leaves to a further study the question of how clarifying foundational and methodological questions in theology might have consequences for Catholic education in general.
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spelling doaj-art-e4748670d378492e8d5f0830a947e58b2025-08-20T01:53:54ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442024-11-011511136910.3390/rel15111369The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal ProcessGerard Kevin Whelan0Faculty of Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, 00187 Rome, ItalyThis article explores the relatively theoretical question of what contribution academic theology is making to the synodal process and how this interaction might deepen in the years to come. It stresses the importance of what it calls foundational theological questions, employing the thought of the Jesuit philosopher and theologian Bernard Lonergan to define this term. It traces how a slow awareness of the importance of such questions, and an explicit attention to the question of theological method that is related to this, began emerging in the Second Vatican Council. It then suggests that such questions have come closer to the center of attention in the synodal process launched by Pope Francis. It proposes that the synodal process in the future will benefit by making further use of the thought of Lonergan. It leaves to a further study the question of how clarifying foundational and methodological questions in theology might have consequences for Catholic education in general.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/11/1369synodalityVatican IILonergantheological methodhistorical consciousnessintellectual conversion
spellingShingle Gerard Kevin Whelan
The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process
Religions
synodality
Vatican II
Lonergan
theological method
historical consciousness
intellectual conversion
title The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process
title_full The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process
title_fullStr The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process
title_full_unstemmed The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process
title_short The Interweaving of Love and Truth: Bernard Lonergan, Intellectual Conversion, and the Synodal Process
title_sort interweaving of love and truth bernard lonergan intellectual conversion and the synodal process
topic synodality
Vatican II
Lonergan
theological method
historical consciousness
intellectual conversion
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15/11/1369
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