Theology at the crossroads of university, church and society : dialogue, difference and Catholic identity / Lieven Boeve.

"This book is a slightly modified English translation of Theologie in dialoog : op het kruitspunt van universiteit, kerk en samenleving : over dialoog, verschil en katholieke identiteit (Kalmthout: Pelckmans, 2014)"--Page [235].

Translated from the Dutch.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: In the margin and at the crossroads. Part 1: Foundation, horizon and location. Foundation: revelation as God's dialogue with people and history ; Horizon: the challenge of plurality and difference ; Location: from the margins and at the crossroads of the university, church and society -- Part 2. At the crossroads of University and church. More room for theology in the church? A critical-empathetic reading of Theology Today ; The swan or the dove? On the difficult dialoque between theology and philosophy ; Mutual interruption: towards a productive tension between theology and religious studies -- Part 3. Theology and society: the issue of Catholic identity. Catholic identity in a post-Christian and post-secular society: four models and a roadmap ; Qualitative pluralism as a hallmark of the Catholic dialogue school ; Catholic religious education: still plausible today?

Lieven Boeve examines the place of theology in the university, the church and society. He emphasizes that theology certainly belongs to all of these three domains as it belongs to the nature of theology to involve itself in all three spheres, especially at the crossroads where they overlap. Boeve discusses the recent document Theology Today from the International Theological Commission which circumscribes theology's place and task in the Catholic Church. Boeve discusses how the difficult relation between theology and philosophy is typical for a Church which has difficulty with the dialogue in today's world; as well as examines the relation between theology and religious studies. Going further, Boeve offers a reflection on Catholic identity today, focusing more specifically on education. He presents four models for considering the identity of Catholic schools in the light of the changed society and argues that dialogue in a context of plurality and difference can lead to new, fruitful ways to shape even the Catholic identity. Boeve concludes his discussion with a short assessment of Pope Benedict's papacy and emphasizes the need for the Catholic Church to convert itself before it can call the world to do the same.