SECULAR SCIENCES AND THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Keywords:
Ecclesiastical Studies, Cross-disciplinary Approach, Interdisciplinary Approach, Secular Science, Teaching Theology, Veritatis GaudiumAbstract
Ecclesiastical and secular studies help priests, consecrated men and women, and committed lay people to develop intellectual tools that can serve as paradigms for action and thought. These studies bear in mind that a person’s identity is fully revealed to her/him only through the lens of faith. Differing currents of thought in philosophy, theology and pastoral practice can enable the Church to grow and express more clearly the immense riches of God’s word. Various approaches are vital to understanding the unity and differences of knowledge today. This demands a highly productive effort to rethink and update ecclesiastical studies in various disciplines within specific frameworks. Today’s studies and research must be interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary. Therefore, teachers and scholars from different religious universities and from different scientific fields should interact with responsible freedom and mutual transparency, creating networks of specialized centres to facilitate the understanding of faith from various perspectives.
References
Francis, Veritatis Gaudium, apostolic constitution, January 29, 2018, http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/es/apost_constitutions/documents/ papafrancesco_costituzione-ap_20171208_veritatis-gaudium.html, 3.
Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, encyclical letter, June 29, 2009, http:// w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_benxvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html, 37.
John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis, Encyclical Letter, March 4, 1979, http:// w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_ 04031979_redemptor-hominis.html, 28.
John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, encyclical letter, May 1, 1991, http://w2.vatican. va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_ centesimus-annus.html, 21.
John Paul II, Sapientia Christiana, Apostolic Constitution, April 15, 1979, http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/ documents/ hf_jp-ii_apc_15041979_sapientia-christiana.html, 20.
Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, encyclical letter, June 29, 2009, http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_benxvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html, 23.
Vatican II, Optatam Totius, Decree on Priestly Training, October 28, 1965, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/ documents/vatii_decree_19651028_optatam-totius_en.html, 8.
Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, apostolic exhortation, December 8, 1975, http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_pvi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html, 29.
Vatican II, Gravissimum Educationis, conciliar declaration, October 28, 1965, http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vatii_decl_19651028_gravissimum-educationis_en.html, 5.
John Paul II, Laborem Exercens, September 14, 1981, http://w2.vatican.va/ content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laboremexercens.html, 5.
Francis, Laudato Si, encyclical letter, 24 May 2015, https://www.google.com/ search?q=laudato%20si, 30.
John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis, encyclical letter, March 4, 1979, http://w2. vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_04031979_ redemptor-hominis.html, 9.
