Religion Commons^™

The Barren Bear Fruit: Towards A Theology Of Marital Fruitfulness For Sterile Catholic Couples In Light Of Hans Urs Von Balthasar’S Theology Of Fruitfulness, Briony Mowbray

Theses

It is estimated that between 4.0% and 11.2% of married Catholic couples remain undesirably childless after exhausting licit medical treatments for their infertility. Yet, a critical appraisal of the documents of the Magisterium highlights an absence of substantial and constructive dialogue about fruitfulness for sterile Catholic couples. This thesis draws upon the insights of Hans Urs von Balthasar in order to construct a preliminary theology of marital fruitfulness that is specifically applicable to Christian couples unable to have biological children. Following the aforementioned appraisal of relevant Magisterial documents, this thesis is divided into two further sections. In the first section, …

Hermeneutics Of St John's Bible, Angela Mccarthy

Theology Conference Papers

The connection between art, theology and religious practice is ancient and rich. Within the traditions of Christianity there have been moments in time when major contributions have been made. The St John’s Bible is one such contribution. Formed in the Benedictine tradition, it is the first fully hand scribed, hand illuminated Bible in 500 years. The quality of the result of this major project is of immense value and the contribution to culture and history is of real import for the 21^st Century. This paper explores volume six, Gospels and Acts, of the fine art Heritage Edition.

St Thomas Aquinas On Affectivity: A Way Forward For Seminary Formation, Bernard Gordon

Theses

St Thomas Aquinas on Affectivity: A Way Forward for Seminary Formation, is a theological argument that St Thomas’ teaching can be applied to the affective formation of men preparing to be Catholic priests. St Thomas’ teaching provides a very helpful understanding of affective maturity and its integral importance for a truly Christian and priestly life in the service of others. It flows from a theological anthropology that recognizes proper affective growth as an integral part of human life and interpersonal relationships. Affective maturity is an essential attribute for the seminarian to acquire because he is preparing to be a priest …

Book Review: Apologia Pro Beata Maria Virgine: John Henry Newman’S Defence Of The Virgin Mary In Catholic Doctrine And Piety, Matthew C. Ogilvie

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

Book Review: No abstract available.

"I Love People So Terribly": Approaching Affectivity With Levinas, Hillesum, And Christian Theology, Glenn Morrison

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

Through engaging the writings of two Jewish thinkers, Emmanuel Levinas and Etty Hillesum, this essay sets out to develop a Christian theological approach to affectivity. It begins by introducing Levinas and Hillesum to develop a context for dialogue between Jewish thought and Christian theology. Initiating a phenomenological foundation, the essay suggests that affectivity resonates through the human condition of loneliness and otherness. Building on this perspective and aided by Levinas’s thought and the practical expression of Hillesum’s affectivity of talking to God, the focus turns to introduce and develop the notions of spontaneity, melancholy, and vigilance. Hence, it suggests the …

Hearing And Understanding: Vernacular Liturgical Reform At Holy Trinity Abbey New Norcia 1963-1970, Christopher Kan

Theses

The first fruit of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) was Sacrosanctum Concilium – the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Within eight years of its promulgation Roman Catholic worship across the world was transformed, as the language and practice of the rites of the Church underwent significant change. One of the most noticeable changes was the relaxation of the requirement for the Church’s liturgy to be celebrated in Latin and instead be in the local language of the people, the vernacular.

Case studies of the implementation of the post-conciliar reform, as advocated by the Council, are infrequent, especially in the context …

Logos I - Philosophy And The Nature Of Morality: The Abolition Of Man, C.S. Lewis, Lucie Steiner

Aristos

C.S. Lewis’ objective stance on ethics is argued to be superior to the moral sentimentalism of David Hume, because if there is not agreement on what constitutes moral action, then there is no basis for argument over the existence of moral law.

Logos Ii - Virtue Ethics And Political Corruption: An Ethical Case Study, Nicholas Potter

Aristos

This ethical case study will apply virtue ethics in moral decision making. It is argued that exposing corruption defends virtue and protects the good life by demonstrating a commitment to honesty and truth. Virtuous behaviour allows us to live socially and undermines the attempts of dishonest individuals to secure a comfortable life immorally.

Are There Many Philosophies Or Is There Just ‘Doing Philosophy’?, Richard Sofatzis

Aristos

The term ‘philosophy’ may be used in more than one sense to refer to both the subjective human activity of ‘doing philosophy’ and its result, namely the production of systems of thought – philosophical theories – which history demonstrates as many and various. It will be argued that there is only one way of doing philosophy and that this is proceeding from the common principles of the human mind in the search for truth of what is real. The mark of true philosophy is unity. A unity of true philosophy may be sought from what seems disparate: Aquinas embodies this …

A Case For Cavalletti In The Classroom: The Salt Approach, Anne-Marie Irwin

Theology Conference Papers

The Scripture and Liturgy Teaching Approach (SALT Approach) is the product of a PhD study completed in 2017. Taking Montessorian principles and Sofia Cavalletti’s work, the SALT Approach is built upon the Christian anthropological understanding of the human person. Its core pedagogies address the need facilitate pondering, respect for each person, and authentic choice-making. The SALT study investigated and addressed elements impacting on these pedagogies. It demonstrated that SALT’s holistic approach has the potential to work successfully within diversely populated schools, and that it can meet the accountability demands. Furthermore, it offers a paradigm for religious education very much in …

On The Knowledge Of God And The Metaphysics Of Aquinas, Tom Green

Aristos

Thomas Aquinas argues in his seminal work, the Summa Theologiae, that one can come to know the existence of God through rational argumentation alone. As a theologian writing a work of theology, he makes his demonstrations concerning God’s existence from the point of view of his Christian faith. And in this, it will be argued, Aquinas is not necessarily mistaken. For his project is to present a grand scheme of reality and man’s place within it. Philosophers have often tried the same, and, like Aquinas, their attempts have been made from a certain point of view. That, it will …

Pentateuch Exegesis: Pericope: Leviticus 8, Rebekah Walsh

Aristos

This exegesis will argue that the selection and consecration of the Levites followed a process of divine and human preparation. The transformation that occurs through the carrying out of the rite of ordination and through the new office, as priests for the Lord, is a notable example of God’s mercy and faithfulness to his people, to whom he offers a means of atonement for sin and the possibility of holiness for the people.

Aquinas’ De Malo And The Ostensibly Problematic Status Of Natural Evil As Privation, Iñaki Xavier Larrauri Pertierra

Aristos

Arguments concerning the nature of natural evil vary in their conclusions depending on the particular approach with which they commence inquiry; one of the most contested conclusions regards evil as privation, sourcing its justification primarily from Aquinas’ metaphysical conception of good as being and evil as non-being. It should be of no surprise, then, that the dismissal of natural evil’s privative nature comes about when the understanding of natural evil favours a phenomenological approach rather than a metaphysical one. Proponents of said dismissal generally centre their claims around the notion of pain and suffering as substantially contentful – as in, …

Did Jesus Possess The Beatific Vision During His Incarnation?: A Comparative Essay On The Perspectives Of Thomas Joseph White And Thomas G. Weinandy, William Chami

Aristos

The idea that Jesus possessed the beatific vision during his earthly life had traditionally been upheld by Catholic theologians. However, in the last century or so, this idea has become heavily scrutinised by some of the biggest names in contemporary theology. This paper examines the works of two particular contemporary theologians on the issue, Thomas Joseph White and Thomas G. Weinandy. Thomas White defends the belief that Jesus, during his earthly life, possessed an immediate vision of the Father. White believes that the beatific vision is necessary for the Incarnate Son to know with certainty his own identity as …

World Youth Day: An Australian Perspective, Anthony Cleary

Theses

World Youth Day has become the largest regular gathering of young people in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands, and on occasions, millions of participants. The size and scale of this Catholic religious event, and its generation of tourism and mass media coverage, help define the gathering as a mega-event with international significance.

Since its inception, Australians have participated in each of the international World Youth Days, and this participation has grown and diversified. Perhaps the most significant factor in this period, described by some as a ‘watershed moment’, was the influence and impact of an Australian city hosting World …

Catholic Theology. By Tracey Rowland. Pp. 256, London, T&T Clark, 2017, $20.89, Thomas V. Gourlay

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

Book Review:

Catholic Theology. By Tracey Rowland. Pp. 256, London, T&T Clark, 2017, $20.89.

Book Review: God And Eros: The Ethos Of The Nuptial Mystery, Thomas V. Gourlay

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

No abstract available for this book review.

The Changing Face Of Australia: From Secular To Post-Secular Identity, Saskia Ebejer

Theses

The secularisation thesis, originally developed in the 1960s and touted as a seminal sociological theory, has over the last few decades been called into question. In particular, claims regarding the displacement of religion in the public square and, ultimately, the waning or disappearance tout court of religion from the lives of individuals have come under scrutiny. The advent of the secular paradigm has no doubt had lasting effects, both publicly and privately, but, far from consisting merely in the extinction of religion, theorists have been drawing attention to the recent proliferation, spawned by the crisis of or dissatisfaction with the …

The Impact Of Pilgrimage Upon The Faith And Faith-Based Practice Of Catholic Educators, Rachel Capets

Theses

A pilgrimage of Catholic educators from Sydney Catholic Schools served as a phenomenographic case study for an investigation into the impact of pilgrimage upon the faith and faith-based practice of Catholic educators. Forty-five Catholic educators embarked on a pilgrimage for the Canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in April 2014. The pilgrimage itinerary led the educators through Italy, whereby the pilgrims visited the holy sites of Saints significant in the life of the Church.

Phenomenographic data collection and analysis are used to investigate the range of ways educators’ perceive the impact of pilgrimage on faith. Pilgrimage is …

Because He Has Spoken To Us Joseph Ratzinger, The Revelation Of The Logos In Jesus Christ, And A Fundamental Pattern For Evangelization, Bradley Bursa

Theses

In a 1983 lecture, Joseph Ratzinger noted that one need not demonstrate at great length the apparent difficulties within the epoch’s catechetical efforts, even going so far as to declare the situation a state of crisis. He argues that the reversal of roles between content and method – with content now serving method – served as a significant source of the purported crisis.1 The bulk of Ratzinger’s expansive theological work is a response to various crises within the understanding of the contents themselves, with a willing admission on his part that he did not have responsibility for catechetical methods.2 However, …

The Christian Concept Of The Nature Of Motherhood And Its Implications In A Contemporary Context, Christine Fisk

Theses

The contemporary context presents countless ideologies and conflicting views about what femininity is and what it is not. In particular, the modern pursuit of equality and autonomy has resulted in the perception of motherhood as inconvenient in some quarters or, worse yet, inconsequential. This thesis considers the question as whether or not motherhood is separable from womanhood, and if there is indeed any inherent value to motherhood. The intent of this thesis was to go beyond the variety of views of what motherhood is to the two primary female figures in Scripture – Eve and Mary - to discern what …

Ontologia Ad Theologia: An Intellectual History Of Contemporary English Language Rahner Scholarship, Maddison Reddie-Clifford

Theses

This thesis develops the methodology of the practice of the History of Ideas for the study of English language Rahnerian literature. Drawing primarily on the Cambridge School and techniques of French analysis, it endeavours to recover the intended consequence of particular writings of Karl Rahner and to examine how this intended consequence conforms with the current English language understanding. It facilitates this with a study of several questions that arise in the current dominant hermeneutics of English language Rahner study. By deploying a rigorous intellectual history of Rahner’s theological development, it tests the extent to which the non-foundationalist approach to …

Between Forum And Tower: The Sources Of Political Judgement In The Leadership Of Pope John Paul Ii, Cormac Mccaughan

Theses

According to Mary Ann Glendon, scholars and statespersons have often grappled with a tension of pursuing their political ideals within practical realities. In The Forum and The Tower, Glendon examines how the political judgments of prominent public figures illuminates how conceptions of political ends inform, or do not inform, those decisions. This thesis draws from contemporary debates on Aristotle’s phronesis to explore how political actors deliberate between acting with integrity and compromising their political ideals. It develops a theoretical framework to examine the sources of political judgment in the leadership of Pope John Paul II towards Communist authority in Poland. …

The Plight Of Mass Man & The Concept Of Creatura According To Romano Guardini & Josef Pieper, Andriya Martinovic

Theses

This thesis argues that the plight of Mass Man finds relief when creaturely awareness is practised. For Guardini, a close reading of key passages substantiates the basis for the thesis. The Pieper response considers a broad selection of texts to affirm what is explicit in Guardini regarding Mass Man, established continuity with it, and to explicate what Guardini infers regarding creatura. Chapter 1 finds that Guardini affirms the goodness of matter or masses, and man’s mediative role in perfecting it (Ur-Werk), by drawing upon Augustine’s theory of hyle as creation; but shows the possibility of massification when man, as created …

An Exegetical Study Of The Annunciation Of Luke 1:26-38 Through Text And Art, Kellie Costello

Theses

In the Gospel of Luke, Mary of Nazareth’s encounter with the angel Gabriel has captured the attention and the imagination of theologians, scholars and artists for millennia, for in it the evangelist, communicates the announcement of the Incarnation of the long-promised Messiah. This exegetical study of the Annunciation through text and art examines how this good news was communicated to the first readers. Then following on from this acquired knowledge, this research seeks to discover if the understanding of the Annunciation has evolved over time by examining four artworks: two from sixteenth-century Europe and two from twentieth-century Australia. Each artwork …

How Do The Writings Of Pope Benedict Xvi On "Transformation" Apply To A Couple's Growth In Holiness In Sacramental Marriage?, Houda Jilwan

Theses

No abstract provided.

Theological Foundations Of Pastoral Care In Catholic Universities, Thomas V. Gourlay

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

One defining element of life in any Catholic educational institution, whether it be primary, secondary, or tertiary, is the focus on pastoral care for staff and students. This paper provides a distinctly Catholic definition of the term ‘pastoral care’ and briefly examines the theological foundations that underpin this concept, particularly, in relation to its application in the Catholic university. The paper traces the motif of pastoral care through the Scriptures and, building on insights from St. Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae (1990) and the broader theological anthropology of the Vatican II Council. The …

Patrick Mcnamara: The Neuroscience Of Religious Experience, R Younis

Philosophy Papers and Journal Articles

Book Review

Patrick McNamara: The Neuroscience of Religious Experience. Cambridge University Press 2009.

Considering Governance Of Catholic Schools In Canada: Some Insights For Australia, Richard M. Rymarz

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

A consideration of Canadian Catholic schools provides insights for Australian educators. The history and current structure and function of Canadian Catholic schools reflect provincial differences. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario Catholic schools exist as fully funded separate schools. They have been seen to be successful in providing a high quality education that meets general educational, or first order, needs. A key challenge for Canadian Catholic schools is how they respond to new issues such as developing policy for transgendered students. These are termed as second order challenges. In addressing these challenges a number of implications can be drawn for Australian …

Communion Ecclesiology And Communication In The Post-Vatican Ii Church, Marita Winters

Theses

From the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) there has been a recovery of the understanding of the nature of the Church as communion. The communion of the Church is derived from the divine love between the three Persons of the Trinity and gives rise to communion among the faithful. It is evident in scripture and was understood by the early Church. This shift in ecclesiology underpinned the renewal of the Church’s mission of evangelization in the years since the Council. The Church is called to go out to the whole world and tell the Good News of Jesus …