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drac16
Guest
Peace and blessings! 
What theologians have influenced you guys? how have they influenced you?
What theologians have influenced you guys? how have they influenced you?
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TheAmazingGrace
Guest
I don’t know if he is a theologian in the strictest sense, but C.S. Lewis has always been a big influence for me.
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Marie5890
Guest
Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) one of the 20th century’s best.
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tiny_augustine
Guest
Cardinal Jean Danielou, Brant Pitre, Scott Hahn, Michael Barber, Steven Smith, John Bergsma.
Amazingness!
Amazingness!
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ComplineSanFran
Guest
There have been so many influences, some rising to the top at different points in my life.
I started out reading C.S. Lewis and Paul Tillich early on.
Bonhoeffer was very influential in my 20’s.
I have always loved both Buber and Heschel - they have taught me about Judaism and mysticism.
Rowan Williams, as theologian and poet, is never far from hand.
Rosemary Reuther taught me about feminism.
Thomas Merton taught me about the inner life.
Hans Kung I read and learned from.
These days I am learning from John Swinton, Sarah Coakley, Alan Jones, and James Alison.
I am always looking for new voices in theology. Do people here know of ones?
I started out reading C.S. Lewis and Paul Tillich early on.
Bonhoeffer was very influential in my 20’s.
I have always loved both Buber and Heschel - they have taught me about Judaism and mysticism.
Rowan Williams, as theologian and poet, is never far from hand.
Rosemary Reuther taught me about feminism.
Thomas Merton taught me about the inner life.
Hans Kung I read and learned from.
These days I am learning from John Swinton, Sarah Coakley, Alan Jones, and James Alison.
I am always looking for new voices in theology. Do people here know of ones?
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Reuben_J
Guest
None, in that it changes my belief which was not there.
A cradle Catholic, my view of my religion is orthodox and I cannot recall if any theologians have ever influenced me to believe otherwise.
A cradle Catholic, my view of my religion is orthodox and I cannot recall if any theologians have ever influenced me to believe otherwise.
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Bballer32
Guest
For me, Benedict XVI/Ratzinger is one of the most influential for me in terms of Liturgical Theology.
Being a fan of Scholasticism and Thomism, I would also have to say that Thomas Aquinas influences a lot of my thoughts as well as Reginald Garigou-Lagrange, O.P., Aidon Nichols O.P.
Also among them are St. Anselm, Hans van Balthasaar, Adrian Fortescue, Romano Guardini, Deitrich van Hildebrand, and many others.
However, I’m also very into patriology (the study of the Church Fathers) and so among them, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Justin Martyr, Athanasius of Alexandria, and Optatus have influenced different areas of theology in my life.
Being a fan of Scholasticism and Thomism, I would also have to say that Thomas Aquinas influences a lot of my thoughts as well as Reginald Garigou-Lagrange, O.P., Aidon Nichols O.P.
Also among them are St. Anselm, Hans van Balthasaar, Adrian Fortescue, Romano Guardini, Deitrich van Hildebrand, and many others.
However, I’m also very into patriology (the study of the Church Fathers) and so among them, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Justin Martyr, Athanasius of Alexandria, and Optatus have influenced different areas of theology in my life.
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Rosebud77
Guest
None, Why use the operator when you can dial direct? Jesus and His Word are enough and a feast.
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prodromos
Guest
In the Orthodox Church, only three saints have been given the title of “Theologian”. They are St John the Evangelist, St Gregory Nazianzus and St Symeon the New Theologian.
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Johann_du_Toit
Guest
Blessed John Henry Newman, Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, St John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. I Also read some of Pope Francis’s views on faith and morals, and what I read is good, but books by his Holiness on theological matters are rather scarce.
Don’t know if Chesterton, Belloc and Jacques Maritain count as theologians but they did influence me.
Don’t know if Chesterton, Belloc and Jacques Maritain count as theologians but they did influence me.
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pianistclare
Guest
Sometimes we can be fooled by or own thoughts…so for inspiration I love to read Merton, Nouwen, Neumann, Ratzinger, and Loyola. I like both Ignatian and Franciscan spirituality.
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PassingSoul
Guest
Thomas MertonPeace and blessings!
What theologians have influenced you guys? how have they influenced you?
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Irishmom2
Guest
Reading the writings of theologians can open our minds and hearts to God in ways that we are incapable of doing on our own because we do not have the knowledge they have. We become enlightened and able to come to a deeper understanding of God. It is not enough to remain stuck in our own mind, we must grow in order to move closer to him.
Thomas Merton
Karl Rahner
Pope John Paul II
Thomas Merton
Karl Rahner
Pope John Paul II
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Dante221
Guest
My favorites:
Thomas a Kempis (The Imitation of Christ )
Erasmus of Rotterdam ( Handbook of the Militant Christian )
Thomas a Kempis (The Imitation of Christ )
Erasmus of Rotterdam ( Handbook of the Militant Christian )
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Stephen_says
Guest
Define “Theologian”.
I would say Hans Urs Von Balthesar by extension, because I listen to a lot of “Catholic Stuff You Should Know” and the priests on that podcast refer to VB quite often.
I also listen to a lot of Bishop Robert Barron, and he talks a lot about Thomas Aquinas…
But if parish priests with a podcast could be considered “Theologians” then I would say the priests of “Catholic Stuff You Should Know”
I would say Hans Urs Von Balthesar by extension, because I listen to a lot of “Catholic Stuff You Should Know” and the priests on that podcast refer to VB quite often.
I also listen to a lot of Bishop Robert Barron, and he talks a lot about Thomas Aquinas…
But if parish priests with a podcast could be considered “Theologians” then I would say the priests of “Catholic Stuff You Should Know”
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Wannano
Guest
I agree completely Rosebud, however, I know I have been influenced by theologians as probably most of us have and maybe to our detriment most of the time. Christ’s message is so simple that we can’t seem to grasp it without (name removed by moderator)ut from theologians who very early on turned Christ’s Way into a religion. Even so, thru all the centuries Christ’s church catholic has prevailed and will endure to the end of time as He promised in spite of all the opinions and influences of mere men.
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pianistclare
Guest
The OP probably meant from an intellectual perspective, not heart-faith.
We all should be constantly reading and learning form those wise and inspired persons.
To believe that we can possibly have a lock on everything in our faith is foolish. Indeed, where do we think the liturgical texts, the devotions, and the Traditional practices come from? Scripture of course, but developed and codified by people. The Theology of the Sacraments. They have their root in Christ of course, but they were developed by people. Really smart people. Even priest homilies of not-so-famous clerics are beneficial.
People have given many great examples here.
We all should be constantly reading and learning form those wise and inspired persons.
To believe that we can possibly have a lock on everything in our faith is foolish. Indeed, where do we think the liturgical texts, the devotions, and the Traditional practices come from? Scripture of course, but developed and codified by people. The Theology of the Sacraments. They have their root in Christ of course, but they were developed by people. Really smart people. Even priest homilies of not-so-famous clerics are beneficial.
People have given many great examples here.
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Wannabe_Monk_16
Guest
The Little Flower!
Her “little way” of offering up the smallest act with an enormous amount of love for a specific intention is so spiritually beneficial. I think it really coincides with our universal call to holiness.
O Petite Fleur, ora pro nobis!
Her “little way” of offering up the smallest act with an enormous amount of love for a specific intention is so spiritually beneficial. I think it really coincides with our universal call to holiness.
O Petite Fleur, ora pro nobis!
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Polycarp1
Guest
Because Jesus founded and commissioned a teaching Church. He promised and gave them the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.
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eddie_too
Guest
in chronological order of their lives:
st. john the apostle, he introduced me to the nature of theology.
st. paul of tarsus, he introduced me to the development of christian doctrine.
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st. augustine of hippo, his book de trinitate inspired me and motivated me to meditate on the sacred mysteries so as to incorporate better understandings of them.
st. thomas aquinas, he gave me insight in to what extent human reason can provide insight in to divine mysteries.
st. francis de sales, he provided insight in to how our daily lives can embrace Christ and interact with our spiritual development.
st. john XXIII, he inspired me to move beyond the black and white of traditional concepts.
fr. manuel miguens, OFM, he taught me so much about the creation, development, interpretation and context of the old testament.
fr. bernard orchard, OSB, he taught me that just because a modern consensus exists as to the development of the new testament, that consensus is not beyond questioning. he provided alternatives to the modern academic consensus of new testament textual analysis.
pope benedict XVI, his three volumes on the life of Christ gave me greater understanding and insights in to the events surrounding Jesus as presented in the gospels. he helped me place the gospels in a more accurate context.
pope francis, he has taught me how real growth in christian spirituality results in our becoming more merciful. less judgmental, more forgiving and less legalistic and less subject to black and white interpretations of the law. he taught me that the law is only where the mission of the Church begins and not where it ends.
st. john the apostle, he introduced me to the nature of theology.
st. paul of tarsus, he introduced me to the development of christian doctrine.
i
st. augustine of hippo, his book de trinitate inspired me and motivated me to meditate on the sacred mysteries so as to incorporate better understandings of them.
st. thomas aquinas, he gave me insight in to what extent human reason can provide insight in to divine mysteries.
st. francis de sales, he provided insight in to how our daily lives can embrace Christ and interact with our spiritual development.
st. john XXIII, he inspired me to move beyond the black and white of traditional concepts.
fr. manuel miguens, OFM, he taught me so much about the creation, development, interpretation and context of the old testament.
fr. bernard orchard, OSB, he taught me that just because a modern consensus exists as to the development of the new testament, that consensus is not beyond questioning. he provided alternatives to the modern academic consensus of new testament textual analysis.
pope benedict XVI, his three volumes on the life of Christ gave me greater understanding and insights in to the events surrounding Jesus as presented in the gospels. he helped me place the gospels in a more accurate context.
pope francis, he has taught me how real growth in christian spirituality results in our becoming more merciful. less judgmental, more forgiving and less legalistic and less subject to black and white interpretations of the law. he taught me that the law is only where the mission of the Church begins and not where it ends.
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