Theological Methodology: Neo-Scholasticism

The study of theology is only the study of doctrines and practices of the Catholic faith.

Neo-Scholastic methodology in theologizing involves the presentation of the church’s official teaching or doctrine.

Western thought has been subjected to suspicion and rendered inferior in the evaluation of new cultures related to the practice of faith.

All sixteen documents of Vatican II are regarded as pivotal.

Lumen Gentium is the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.

Sacrosanctum Concilium is the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation.

Dei Verbum is the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy.

The four essential documents of Vatican II are typically recognized by their English titles.

Dei Verbum is the least important of the four documents.

Revelation is the human response to God's initiative.

Faith is possible without revelation.

Neo-Scholasticism interprets revelation and faith in a way that is relevant to the context of particular cultures.

Vatican II abandoned the thought categories of personalist philosophy in Dei Verbum.

The church's mission is to preserve and reveal Christ's truths.

Dei Verbum interprets revelation and faith in terms of personal relationship.

Christ was sent by the Mother to reveal all truth.

Theological Methodology

Neo-Scholasticism is a theological methodology that presents the church's official teaching or doctrine, provides proofs from the Bible and leading church authorities, and includes speculative elaboration of the doctrine.
This approach focuses on the contents of faith detached from local circumstances and everyday life experiences.

Limitations of Neo-Scholasticism

Neo-Scholasticism has been criticized for prioritizing Western thought and evaluating the emergence of new cultures related to the practice of faith.
This has led to suspicion and inferior treatment of non-Western cultures.

Vatican II Documents

Four documents of Vatican II are considered pivotal: Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes, Sacrosanctum Concilium, and Dei Verbum.
Lumen Gentium deals with the life of Catholics within the Church.
Gaudium et Spes treats the relationship of the Church with contemporary situations.
Sacrosanctum Concilium lays out the importance, relevance, and re-orientation of worship within Catholicism.
Dei Verbum is considered the most important document and deals with the relationship between God and people, as well as created realities.

Revelation and Faith

Revelation is the initiative of God in the relationship, while faith is the human response to God's initiative.
These two concepts are mutually reciprocal and cannot be understood without each other.
The relational reality of revelation-faith influences the way we perceive Jesus as the Christ, the Church, and the deep meaning of life shared by God with us.

Critique of Neo-Scholasticism's Interpretation

Neo-Scholasticism has interpreted revelation and faith in a way that is irrelevant to the context of particular cultures.
God's revelation is seen as supernatural realities for our salvation, and faith means accepting these facts.
This approach has been abandoned in Dei Verbum, which espoused the thought categories of personalist philosophy, considering it more biblically attuned and situationally meaningful.

Learn about Neo-Scholasticism, a theological methodology that presents and elaborates on the church's official doctrine, its strengths and limitations.