Thomas P. Rausch - Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach

In the same clear and careful way that Richard McBrien helped Catholics of the 1980s understand the richness of their doctrinal tradition, Tom Rausch offers in this volume a way for Catholics to navigate that same tradition in this second decade of the twenty-first century. Rausch pays close attention, however, not only to the traditions content but also to its context of postmodernity, cultural diversity, gender awareness, and sensitivity to sexual orientation. Although sometimes controversial, Rausch is always thorough and fair. This will be a helpful book for students and teachers alike.

Stephen Bevans, SVD

Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD, Professor of Mission and Culture, Emeritus

Catholic Theological Union, Chicago

Rausch has produced a first-rate introduction to Catholic systematic theology. This book provides a cogent and up-to-date summary of the conversation in every major branch of systematic theology while also explaining the methods, biblical bases, historical development, and ecumenical perspectives that inform the debates. Rauschs writing is clear and engaging, making this text an excellent book for undergraduates. At the same time, it provides substantive contributions useful to advanced scholars. This book should be the top choice for anyone who wants to get the lay of the land in contemporary Catholic theology.

Mary Doak

Associate Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

University of San Diego

Thomas Rausch is a masterful teacher. With this book he offers a clear, well-informed introduction to contemporary Catholic systematic theology. Rausch insightfully maps its key areas, major figures, and frontier issues.

Robert P. Imbelli

Associate Professor of Theology Emeritus, Boston College

Author of Rekindling the Christic Imagination

Thomas P. Rausch, one of American Catholicisms finest writers, provides a solid introduction to the study of systematic theology, one that is attentive to its complex historical evolutions and contemporary face, while taking seriously its faith-filled, ecclesial, and contextual character. Educators and students alike will welcome his balanced presentation of the plurality of contemporary systematic theologies that carry forward the pastoral effort of mediating the meaning of a life in communionwith the Christian God, with other human persons in the church and society, and with the whole of creationto the women and men of our time.

Catherine E. Clifford

Saint Paul University, Ottawa

Covering every major topic in Catholic theology with his signature accessibility and insight, this treatment of systematic theology is Thomas Rauschs chef doeuvre. Students and teachers looking for a reliable overview of historical and contemporary approaches to theology will find no single volume better than this.

Michael Downey, editor of The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality

A Michael Glazier Book published by Liturgical Press

Cover design by Jodi Hendrickson. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Peter Lombard, Sententiae (The Sentences), Bibliotheque Municipale at Troyes MS900, fol. 1r.

On the cover is Peter Lombard (10961169), a scholastic theologian at Notre Dame in Paris. His Four Books of the Sentences could be considered one of the first comprehensive texts on systematic theology. University students prepared commentaries on its overview of Christian doctrine down to the sixteenth century.

Unless otherwise indicated, excerpts from documents of the Second Vatican Council and all other Vatican documents are from the Vatican website.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

2016 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, microfiche, mechanical recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint Johns Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500. Printed in the United States of America.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rausch, Thomas P.

Title: Systematic theology : a Roman Catholic approach / Thomas P. Rausch, S.J.

Description: Collegeville, Minnesota : Liturgical Press, 2016. | A Michael Glazier book.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015035247| ISBN 9780814683200 | ISBN 9780814683453 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Catholic ChurchDoctrines. | Theology, Doctrinal.

Classification: LCC BX1751.3 .R388 2016 | DDC 230/.2dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015035247

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