The Making of Catholic Theology: The Medieval Period

Module Description:

The purpose of this module is to survey the political, cultural and religious context in which Catholic theology developed in the medieval period. An important aim will be to introduce the student to some representative figures in the theology of the period. The module includes a seminar-study of representative works from the period, (comprising one third of the contact hours).

In the early medieval period the Church had taken credit for the enormous effort of organising society after and amidst the chaos of the barbarian invasions. This effort led to the creation of the feudal system and within it the monastery was the religious counterpart to the feudal castle. For three centuries monastic schools, alongside cathedral schools, were the context in which a flourishing Christian literature thrived. Some of this literature will be examined

The revolutionary results of the introduction of Greco-Arabic thought and Hebraic wisdom in the final decades of the twelfth century and the first decades of the thirteen can be seen as the dividing point between the early and the late Middle Ages.

In the thirteenth century new institutions broke free from the feudal structures. Urban centres fought for, and sometimes achieved, charters of freedom. University charters were worked out. These differed totally from the preceding monastic schools in that these were governed by fluid scholarly communes. The exhilarating discovery of Greek thought (and its Arabic commentaries) had a profound effect on the Cathlic theological tradition. The importance of the new synthesis of previous lines of theological exploration and the new discoveries of Greco-Arabic thought which is achieved in the works of Aquinas will be examined

Towards the later centuries of the medieval period new forms of social and urban life, including new feminist roles, are the context in which notable movements of women mystics flourished. Some works of these women mystics will be studied.

Indicative Bibliography:

Chenu, M-D., Aquinas and his Role in Theology (trans.) (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2002).
D’Onfrio, J., History of Theology: The Middle Ages, vol. II (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2008).
Gonzalez, J.L., A History of Christian Thought, vol. II (Nashville: Abington Press, 1971)
McGrath A., Historical Theology (Blackwell: Oxford University Press, 1998).
Pelican, J., The Growth of Medieval Theology (600- 1300) (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978).

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• Compare and contrast the contributions of the monastic schools and that of the new universities to the development of Catholic theology.
• Explain the importance of the Greco-Arabic influence, philosophically and culturally.
• Evaluate the importance of the synthesis created by Aquinas for the formation of European thought.
• Appraise the importance of the emergence of urban organisation as the context for new forms of feministic mystical expression.

Methods of Assessment and Student Workload:

Continually assessed.