On being a Catholic theologian

Abstract

D’Costa argues that all theology is tradition specific, working with particular rules in its procedures and particular authorities that determine its substantive conclusions. This is demonstrated by outlining what might be termed ‘Roman Catholic theology’, defined as being basically prayerful, intellectually rigorous, communally tested and accountable reflection upon the three sources of authority that feed theology: Scripture, tradition and magisterium. D’Costa elaborates on each of these three to bring out the contours and interrelationships. He argues that, in this approach, the Bible cannot exist without tradition and magisterium, and the last two cannot exist without the Bible.