Assessment

Continuous Assessment: 40% / Take-home written Examination: 60%

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to a foundational discourse on Revelation and Faith as understood in the Catholic theological tradition and as expressed and lived in contemporary culture. It will enable students to appreciate the specific contributions made by a number of leading theologians, notably Augustine, Aquinas, De Lubac, Congar, and Latourelle. The module will explore and critically assess the contributions of the major Councils of the Church on Revelation. There will be an extensive discussion of Vatican II’s Dei Verbum, with a view to appreciating its significance in terms of understanding the synodal character of ecclesial life and the dynamics of faith-life in contemporary culture. Finally, the module will deal with some creative, recent discussions that enable theology to respond to the needs of late modernity.

Indicative Syllabus

Rational and Existential Foundations to Revelation

• Terminology and Language of Revelation
• Hermeneutics and Culture
• Apologetics and Fundamental Theology

Revelation and Temporality

• The Fathers and Cultural Horizons: the ambiguity of the temporal
• Scholasticism and The Council of Trent: the rise of an atemporal discourse
• The First Vatican Council

On the Word of God: Revelation at Vatican II

• Outset of the Council and discussion of revelation
• The Path towards and achievement of Dei Verbum
• Culture and Tradition

Revelation, Reason, and Culture: More Recent Approaches

• Saturation
• Culture and the Mimetic
• Kenosis
• Narrativity and Revelation

Learning Outcomes

• — explain the key theological terms and issues for a discussion of Revelation and Faith and have an appreciation of how our understanding of these has developed over time.
• — articulate in an ecumenical spirit a theologically coherent understanding of Revelation.
• — have a comprehensive understanding of the achievement of Dei Verbum and see its relevance in responding to the changing conditions of culture.
• — appreciate the complexity of the hermeneutic interface between Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium.
• — ecognise the relevance of reflection on Revelation to a synodal understanding of Church and to the new evangelization of contemporary culture (particularly in the Irish context).
• — have studied the guidelines for writing an academic paper and used the same in writing up a research paper.

Bibliography

• — Colin Gunton, A Brief Theology of Revelation (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1995). [231.74 GUN]
• — Gabriel Moran, Theology of Revelation (London: Burns & Oats, 1964). [231.74 MOR]
• — Gerald O’Collins, Theology and Revelation (Cork: Mercier, 1968). [231.74 OCO]
• — René Latourelle, Theology of Revelation. Including a Commentary on the Constitution Dei Verbum of Vatican II (Cork: Mercier Press, 1968). [231.74 LAT]
• — Avery Dulles, Models of Revelation, 2nd edn (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1992). [231.7 DUL]
• — Aylward Shorter, Revelation and its Interpretation (London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1983). [231.74 SHO]
• — Gerald O’Collins, Retrieving Fundamental Theology (London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1993). [230.201 COL]
• — Edward Schillebeeckx, Revelation and Theology (London: Sheed & Ward, 1967). [231.74 SCH]