Is there a Catholic "Systematic Theology"?

[caleb83]

I don’t know if this is the right place to post this question, but

I have read Paul Tillich and I find the whole idea of his system fascinating, and I was wondering what Catholic theologians think about him.

And in general, is there a systematic theology in Catholicism? I know about Summas and all that but Protestants have other methods that seem to be more–I don’t know–than Summas I have read, maybe modern or insightful or something.

They say that Catholic theology is stuck in the past repeating the formulas and insights of Greats like Aquinas, which themselves are original.

You can’t come up with your own idea of who these “they” are, but you know what I am talking about.

I am looking for that super cerebral genious like Aquinas, but not just the old man again.

 

[Newbie2]

Yes, there is a Catholic Systematic Theology.

That is the short answer.

 

[tdgesq]

If you want a short modern Catholic systematic theology, you can take a look at Karl Rahner’s Foundations of Christian Faith. It is a difficult read, so you might want to first order a book that gives an overview of it.

A good number of Catholics disagree with many of Rahner’s conclusions, but it does treat councils all the way up to Vatican II. Rahner himself claims to rely upon Thomistic thinking, but that is also disputed by some Catholics.

Fwiw, I found it to be largely orthodox and a very interesting treatment of Thomism.

 

[caleb83]

It is a difficult read, so you might want to first order a book that gives an overview of it.

.

On your advice I found a little essay on him, and I think I am going to need an introduction to an overview of a preliminary overview of a book on . . .

Thanks though. Except if this Rahner guy makes me have to brush up on Heidegger, I will get you

But I kid!

 

[Camron]

If you want a short modern Catholic systematic theology, you can take a look at Karl Rahner’s Foundations of Christian Faith. It is a difficult read, so you might want to first order a book that gives an overview of it.

A good number of Catholics disagree with many of Rahner’s conclusions, but it does treat councils all the way up to Vatican II. Rahner himself claims to rely upon Thomistic thinking, but that is also disputed by some Catholics.

Fwiw, I found it to be largely orthodox and a very interesting treatment of Thomism.

I like Rahner’s thoughts too. He was definitely influential toward the development of Vatican II as well. Nonetheless he did err in some areas if I recall correctly. I can’t remember exactly what it was so I’d have to look it up to be sure. In the mean time there are a few links to look further.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rahner

krs.stjohnsem.edu/KarlRahner.htm

innerexplorations.com/chtheomortext/kr.htm

philosophyprofessor.com/philosophers/karl-rahner.php

 

[ithrowcheese]

Have a look at Henri de Lubac and Hans Urs Von Balthasar as well.

 

[Cajetan]

The vast majority of Catholics still have so much to learn from Thomas Aquinas that it isn’t funny. Most Catholic theologians today, even, have little more than a caricature-like understanding of his system. That’s the truth of the matter.

 

[tdgesq]

Thanks though. Except if this Rahner guy makes me have to brush up on Heidegger, I will get you

But I kid!

Heidegger is impossible for just about anybody to understand; except for Rahner it seems, who was a student of Heidegger. There is quite a bit of existentialist thought in Foundations.

I like Rahner’s thoughts too. He was definitely influential toward the development of Vatican II as well. Nonetheless he did err in some areas if I recall correctly. I can’t remember exactly what it was so I’d have to look it up to be sure. In the mean time there are a few links to look further.

Most of the common objections to Rahner’s conclusions on dogmatic matters are simply misunderstandings of his theology imho. There are a couple of areas where I disagree with him though.