Theology

Theology

Theology is "faith seeking understanding." It is a faithful listening to and a systematic, methodical articulation of the message of the Word of God. This Word was first revealed to Israel and then it was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, himself both the mediator and sum total of Revelation, the word of God. This "dei verbum" is transmitted in the living tradition of the Church.

Admittedly, our Western civilization cannot be properly understood without some knowledge of Christianity, which is both a basis and an integral part of our cultural heritage. The study of theology, however, is much more than an essential discipline in the liberal arts education; it has a higher and more comprehensive aim. In relating humanity and the world to their absolute origin and end, theology imparts an ultimate unity to our understanding of reality and helps us, as no purely human discipline can, to see and fulfill the meaning of human existence.

St. Paul St. Peter St. Thomas

Theology Department Mission and Identity

  • We offer an intellectually rigorous Catholicism:  "always have your answer ready for the people who ask you the reason for the hope within" (I pt 3:15).  Our task is not primarily a catechetical one, but a theological one.
  • Our mission is the recovery and renewal of the Catholic theological tradition in harmony with the Magisterium and in dialogue with contemporary thought.  Since we know who we are, we are especially capable of dealing with the profound questions of modern and contemporary thought.
  • We integrate the four fields of theology:  Scripture, History of Christian Doctrine, Systematic Theology, and Moral Theology.  We treat all topics of these four fields within the living Catholic faith.
  • We read Scripture, and classic writings from Athanasius, Augustine, Aquinas, Newman, de Lubac, and theological writings from classic thinkers such as John Paul II.  In the "UD Core spirit" we focus on original texts. 
  • We are and continually strive to be scripturally and historically rooted, philosophically astute, ecumenical and faithful to Catholic teaching.

News

UD Announces Partnership with IWP

Earlier this month, the University of Dallas announced a partnership with the Institute of World Politics (IWP). UD will be the ninth institution of higher learning to partner with IWP.

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Teller Family Finds Friendship, Fraternity in Love of Music

Growing up in a half-Irish Catholic family in Cincinnati, the seven Teller children knew a household full of music. Lucy, Brother Jonah and Brother Simon Teller have used the love of music instilled during childhood by their family to become musicians and produce music of their own.

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UD Engages Conservation, Behavioral Research Efforts with Dallas Zoo

A few years back, the University of Dallas began to form a relationship with the Dallas Zoo, when Assistant Professor of Biology Deanna Soper, Ph.D., and her colleague, Professor of Psychology Scott Churchill, P.h.D., began taking class trips to the zoo. And in the spirit of further collaboration, the world's leading cheetah expert and conservationist, Laurie Marker, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) sponsored by the Dallas Zoo, will join the UD community on Thursday, Oct. 25, to give a lecture about her work rescuing the world's fastest land mammal from extinction.

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