Academic Theology Research Articles

Reimagining theological education: online theological education in the Hong Kong diaspora

ABSTRACT This article demonstrates how theological education can be transformed through the systematic integration of structured theological reflection methods derived from spiritual direction practices. Drawing on Gerhardt’s concept of theonomy and Lynch’s theological reflection framework, it examines how the current crisis in theological education requires not merely programmatic changes but a fundamental reconceptualisation of theological knowledge transmission. Through analysing the Life Seeks Understanding platform’s work with Hong Kong Christians in diaspora, this study demonstrates how structured theological reflection methods create learning spaces that effectively bridge academic theology and contemporary spiritual formation. The platform’s implementation of Gerhardt’s theonomous approach, combined with Lynch’s structured reflection methods, provides evidence for how theological education can maintain intellectual rigour whilst addressing post-secular spiritual needs. Through innovative online courses and culturally sensitive pedagogical approaches, the platform exemplifies how theological education can be made accessible and relevant whilst preserving traditional wisdom. This article contributes to practical theology by demonstrating how experimental approaches to theological reflection can revitalise theological education, particularly for diaspora communities navigating complex cultural and spiritual identities.

The Lived Experience of Divorcing Evangelicals and How Integrated, Empathetic, and Restorative Practice Can Disclose God to Them

Approximately seven in twenty marriages end in divorce in the UK, causing anxiety, depression, and a lasting impact on children. British evangelicals may fare better than average but are not immune from divorce. Despite a rich body of theological literature offering perspectives on divorce contributed by British evangelical scholars, there have been no related empirical studies to examine the lived experience of divorced evangelicals or the pastoral practitioners who support them. My study captures this missing empirical data, finding that evangelical divorce is a life-changing trauma that church practices sometimes compound. In contrast, those who reported integrated, empathetic, and restorative practices in their church or on the Restored Lives course say they were better able to cope, heal, and find hope. Irrespective of the pastoral environment, God was reported to act with compassion. The study employed mixed qualitative methods to capture the empirical data, which were analyzed and brought into dialog with relevant evangelical academic theology and documented practice. I concluded that in the context of complex connections and disconnections between the evangelical domains of theory and practice, integrated, empathetic, and restorative approaches toward the divorced are possible, effective, and disclose a God of grace.

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 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.

Митрополит Антоний (Храповицкий) между Кантом и французским спиритуализмом

Today there is no need to prove the importance of I. Kant’s ideas for Russian religious-philosophical thought. A considerable amount of serious recent academic research confirms this obvious truth. At the same time, the field of Russian academic theology is much less developed in this respect, although Kant’s presence in it, both as an opponent demanding an answer from the “theological faculty” and as a source of fruitful ideas, is no less obvious. In particular, Metropolitan Anthony Khrapovitsky’s extramural dialogue with Kant remains unexplored to this day. Meanwhile, as early as in his master’s thesis “Psychological Evidence in favour of Free Will” Anthony devotes an entire chapter to criticism of Kant's “Critiques”, and later, in his articles of the 90s, he addresses Kant’s “Religion within the Bounds of Bare Reason”. This work attracted the attention of Russian theologians more than once. In particular, an answer to Kant’s Christological challenge was already sought by St Innocent of Kherson. Relying by default on his work, however, Metropolitan Anthony concentrates more on an attempt to complete the Kantian idea of moral duty with the idea of love as a divine power that wills and transforms the world. Here he finds unexpected, at first glance, allies in the person of the French spiritualists Ch. Secrétan and A. Fouillée. The latter, in their turn, relied to a considerable extent in their philosophical constructions on French Augustinianism of the 17th century with its ideas of pure or selfless love, ideas that were peculiarly refracted in the autonomous morality of Kant himself. As a result, in the Christological concept of redemptive compassionate love proposed by Metropolitan Anthony, we recognise the ideas of Bl. Augustine, the forefather of Modern philosophy, which have gone through many philosophical iterations.

Looking and Listening for Lived Theologies of Truth and Reconciliation: Learning from a Diffuse Art Installation in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa

[Figure: see text] Christian complicity in colonialism and the need for truth telling and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples have been a central focus of academic theological research shared at the Canadian Theological Society in recent years. Many Canadian churches have offered official apologies and made formal commitments to right relations with Indigenous peoples. This paper considers the experience of “people in the pews.” Taking a diffuse visual art installation of white ceramic feathers as a starting point, it traces the contours of how local congregations in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa are engaged with truth and reconciliation intellectually, emotionally, and actively. It names the need to bridge the gaps between academic theology and lived theology, and official church statements and everyday practices in congregations. It invites academic theologians to consider the questions: To whom are we listening? Who is listening to us?

Возможна ли теологическая аксиология: pro et contra

Axiology experienced a period of rapid development at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. But until now there have been no attempts to comprehend the concept of value from the theological point of view. Within the framework of classical theology, God was contemplated to be the source of any good. Anything has value only in relation to the Divine Good. In this sense, we can talk about the “theological reduction” of axiology in theology. Axiology is the result of modern awareness by man of his right to free choice among various goods. Nevertheless academic theology of the New Age may have its own insight into the phenomenon of values. It is able to fulfill the role of critical research in relation to what someone perceives as value, in order to indicate the presence or absence of soteriological potential in such a phenomenon. Theology can also study the process of how one or another value has been recognized as soteriological and how this perception influenced the life of an individual, community or Church. The article also shows some features that distinguish the theological view of values from other ways of thinking and raises the question of the development of a theology of culture.

How Useful Is the Christian Theology of Religions? Critical Questions from a Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology Perspective

This contribution to the literature regarding the Christian theology of religions presents a critical view from the outside, a meta-reflection primarily from a religious studies perspective considering the conditions and contexts of academic theology on the one hand, and lived interreligious relationships on the other, which are all-too-easily ignored in works of the theology of religions. First, some newer approaches to the theology of religions will be mentioned before critical questions will be addressed from a religious studies perspective. These are observations in discourse theory, the sociology of religion, religious economics and spatial theory. This is followed by observations from the perspective of intercultural theology, which examine approaches to the theology of religions with regard to phenomena within the Pentecostal movement, discursive constellations in Muslim majority societies and cultural–religious aspects within Indian society. Finally, the “theology of interreligious relations” will be proposed as a corrective to the shortcomings of the ordinary theology of religions.

Beyond Theory and Practice: Lived Theology and Its Intersection with Empirical Theology

Abstract This article approaches the relationship between theory and practice based on Lived Theology. The concept is introduced through empirical insights and an overview of various definitions. Additionally, the article highlights the implications of Lived Theology on the field of academic theology and the concept of theology itself. Subsequently, Lived Theology is juxtaposed with the research field of Empirical Theology. The article explores how Lived Theology can be researched adequately, revealing that Empirical and Lived Theology are interdependent from one another.

Theology in the University: What's Next?

Drawing on my leadership experiences in the academy, particularly as Dean of a theological faculty in a secular, public university (Université Laval), and my recent participation in the Synod on Synodality, I continue my reflections on the future of academic theology that I began in a Toronto Journal of Theology article on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Toronto School of Theology. I argue that drawing on the historical impetus of the creation of two Roman Catholic universities in 1852 (one in Quebec, the other in Ontario), theological institutions must think about social context and pertinence beyond the university. We cannot think abstractly about the development of our theological institutions. It would also be bad advice to consider it only by comparing them to other institutions around the world or by taking as a reference the criteria and strategies common to the development of university institutions. We should not exclude these approaches, but in this article I highlight the obligation to reflect in context; our institutions must never become detached from their social and ecclesial environment. After discussing the reasons that led to the creation of Catholic universities in Canada in the nineteenth century, the article highlights two challenges: the social progress of marginalized communities through access to university education, and the training of workers to the vineyard of the Lord, in particular the formation in synodality.

«Власть ключей» и исповедь: пастырская власть в «Шести чтениях о Таинстве Покаяния в его истории» прот. Валентина Свенцицкого

This article focuses on the concept of pastoral power as presented by Fr Valentine Sventzitsky in his text “Six Readings on the Sacrament of Penance in its History”, which is significant for contemporary Russian Orthodoxy. Opposing the practice of general confession in the 1920s, he contrasts it with private confession, basing his arguments on pre-revolutionary studies of penitential practices and priesthood. At the same time, in Sventzitsky’s text, academic theses undergo a significant transformation in connection with his historiosophic and religious-philosophical ideas. First of all, he uses in this context the theory of the gradual unfolding of the Church's self-consciousness in history and projects this theory onto the theological reflection on the development of the forms of the Sacraments. In the same vein, in relation to ecclesiastical practices, he applies the theory of the historical differentiation in the Church of good and evil. In this context we analyze Sventzitsky's ideas about the secularization of the Church, to which he contrasts the active spiritualization of all life and formulates this call in the idea of a monastery in the world. The article shows what place the priest has in the formation of the monastery in the world. Against this background, the analysis of representations of pastoral power both in the “Readings” and in other texts by Sventzitsky, and correlating them with the sources on which he relies, allows us to highlight his thesis about the transformation of this type of power in history. The author of the Readings identifies three characteristic periods in which pastoral power changed from its public dimension in the ancient Church, communal — in Byzantine monasteries and Russian parish churches, and, finally, personal-psychological — in the context of the Soviet period. These three types of pastoral power are analyzed by Sventzitsky in connection with the transformation in historical perspective of the forms of confession, the continuity of the “power of the keys” in the Church, and the actualization of obedience in church life. From this perspective, Sventzitsky offers a theological justification for the established practice of confession, which he constructs as a bricolage of Russian academic theology and philosophy.

Akademisk og konfesjonell teologi

The article discusses a recent text by Mårten Björk about the relationship between academic and confessional theology. It seeks to problematize and nuance the historical narrative that supports Björk's arguments. In particular, the article focuses on Björk's reading of Friedrich Schleier­macher. It examines the development of scientific theology and the science of religion in the nineteenth century and shows how this was apologetically motivated. Lastly, it argues that the main challenge facing academic theology today is the task of developing a mediating position which cannot be reduced to the purely confessional or non-confessional.

Spirituality and Theological Formation: Seven Critical Considerations

What is meant by spirituality and spiritual development in the context of theological formation, and why is it important to incorporate spirituality in theological formation? This article addresses these questions by reviewing scholarly literature and applying the results to the context of Christian academic faculties of theology. The author argues the interdependence of theological and spiritual formation. Also presented are examples of unsound argumentation as to why spirituality would be important in the context of academic theology. The article concludes with the presentation of seven critical considerations for incorporating spirituality in theology in practices within academic faculties of theology. The article argues that paying attention to spirituality in the context of theological formation is an intrinsic part of striving toward both academic and professional excellence. Theology, including academic theology, gains in expressiveness and relevance when it contributes to the development of personal and communal spirituality.

A Comparative Study of Pentecostal and Non – Pentecostal Theological Education in South Africa: Spirituality and Academic Theology

South Africa’s theological education is diverse, with both Pentecostal and Non-Pentecostal institutions providing different approaches to spiritual formation and academic theology. Although the majority of people, Christian and non-Christian alike, have a strong understanding of spirituality, Pentecostals are relatively new to the term “spiritual formation.” It is about living a practical Christian life, which consists of intimate existential knowledge of God motivated by a genuine love for God. As a result, commitment to the Lord includes involvement and living in the world around one for the glory of God. Theological education on the other hand, is the training that aims to prepare individuals for professional church ministry. According to Scripture, before regeneration, we were all “dead in trespasses” and sins (Ephesians 2:1). If spirituality and academic theology are necessary components of theological education, then understanding how they are integrated in Pentecostal and Non-Pentecostal institutions is crucial for effective theological education. As a result, the purpose of this study is to examine the role of spiritual practices in shaping students’ theological understanding and to contribute to our understanding of the complex relationship between spirituality, academic theology, and leadership development in South African theological education, in order to establish a more thorough and successful way to forming spiritual/ pastoral leaders in the Pentecostal context.

Hierarchické magisterium a akademická teologie

This article explores the relationship between the hierarchical magisterium and academic theology, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the importance of collaboration for the vitality and mission of the Church. The author analyzes the historical development of the role of bishops and theologians as teachers in the Church and points out the need for mutual respect and understanding between bishops and theological faculties. The article also reflects on the current challenges and tensions between the two, especially in the context of academic freedom and the autonomy of theological institutions. The author proposes principles for effective communication and cooperation that should form the basis for a constructive relationship between bishops and theological faculties. Finally, the article stresses the importance of dialogue and mutual aid in overcoming differences and achieving the common goal of strengthening the Church in the contemporary world.

Theologians Minor: Embracing Our Vocation with Humility

Amid multiple crises in our world, academic theology is facing a crisis in Catholic higher education, leading to a smaller place for theology and religious studies in increasingly precarious Catholic institutions. Rather than succumbing to despair or continuing in denial, this address encourages theologians to embrace the virtue of humility and the smallness of the vocation of the theologian in the midst of this turmoil. As “theologians minor” we are called to embrace our own smallness and our own importance in the church and the world, and to build communities closer to the margins of our church and world to which we provide a vital witness.

Feminist Theological Themes in the Biblical Art of Lilian Broca: From Lilith to Mary Magdalene

For three decades, the Canadian artist Lilian Broca has been creating art featuring biblical women: Lilith/Eve, Esther, Judith and Mary Magdalene. These are not single artworks, but series, presenting these women in the contexts of their narratives. In contrast with traditional artistic representations of these figures, dominated by the male gaze, Broca brings a feminist lens to their stories. Broca’s work not only converges with feminist theology and biblical studies, but she also uses this scholarship as part of her research, pointing to a fruitful and significant relationship between feminist art and academic theology.

“Add Teresa of Avila and Stir”—Why Adding Women Does Not End Exclusion Mechanisms in (Theological) Science

Knowledge production is by no means neutral; it perpetuates existing presuppositions and exclusions. Within Catholic theology, this is accentuated by particular structures and institutions. In this article, I will show that exclusions are not changed by simply ‘adding women’. I will proceed in four steps: First, I will examine the epistemic preconditions of knowledge production. Second, I will highlight concrete examples that show how several factors can change our reconstruction of theological history. This section will be organized around gender understandings in the premodern/Reformation era. Third, I argue for a specific understanding of theology which can be understood as a commentary on the respective context. Finally, I will summarize the conclusions with a concrete example. This article is situated in the context of the theological debates in the German-speaking world, which has a particular set of conditions for academic theology, such as the inclusion of theological faculties at state universities. However, it can certainly offer epistemic insights into postcolonial and gender-critical debates on theological contexts that are relevant beyond this specific context. Moreover, the article makes the current debate accessible to non-German-speaking audiences and in this way seeks to close ‘data gaps’ in international scholarship.

Speaking with Us, Not for Us: Neurodiversity, Theology and Justice

To belong in the Christian tradition, we must be able to contribute to it. Yet neurodivergent Christians have rarely been enabled to tell our own stories about ourselves as a vital part of God’s (neuro)diverse creation. In common with other autism research, academic theology is framed by pathologizing clinical paradigms of autism; neurodivergent people’s situated knowledge about ourselves has not always been valued in the field. In this aut-ethnography, I use reflections from a decade of engaging with autism theology – often a painful experience of Othering – to frame a response informed by critical autism and neurodiversity studies. Drawing on lived theology from autistic research participants, I consider what our neurodiversity theologies have to offer to academic theology. Finally, I ask how theologians can do justly by speaking with, not for, neurodivergent people.

Katrin Gülden Le Maire, Pannenberg, the Positioning of Academic Theology and Philosophy of Science: An Evaluation of His Work in the German Context (Berlin: Peter Lang, 2022), pp. 282. $61.95.

Katrin Gülden Le Maire, Pannenberg, the Positioning of Academic Theology and Philosophy of Science: An Evaluation of His Work in the German Context (Berlin: Peter Lang, 2022), pp. 282. $61.95.

Religious Ethics as a Social Practice

ABSTRACTThe Journal of Religious Ethics (JRE) was established at a particular moment in the United States in the early 1970s. This article investigates how that moment—in the institutional milieu of academic theology and religious studies in which the (JRE) emerged—influenced its founding. It does this through attention to three main sources: (1) the original charter and bylaws of the JRE, (2) publications from the JRE and other scholarly outlets in the period, and (3) a collection of interviews with scholars who occupied editorial roles in the first 10 years of the life of the journal. The article suggests that the JRE's early period was driven by three key forces: the emergence of Christian ethics as a field of academic theology, deepening engagement with academic philosophy among students of Christian ethics, and growing attention to the pedagogical requirements of increasingly pluralist tertiary educational environments. In conclusion, I describe my own place in this history, asking how the dynamics around the founding of the JRE shape my participation in the practice enacted in its pages.