Contents

I. THEOLOGY: WHAT IS THE REAL THING? -- pg.1

1. On Theological Education: A Reflection David Tracy -- pg.13

2. Theology and Theologians: An Orthodox Perspective Alkiviadis C. Calivas -- pg.23

3. On the Complexity of Theological Literacy Robert Cummings Neville -- pg.39

4. Renewing Ways of Life: The Shape of Theological Education
S. Mark Heim -- pg.55

5. Identity, Formation, Dignity: The Impacts of Artificial Intelligence upon Jewish and Christian Understandings of Personhood Anne Foerst and Rodney L. Petersen -- pg.68

II. THEOLOGY AND INSTITUTIONAL EXPRESSION -- pg.93

6. Where Catholicism Has Been, and Where It Is Going Raymond G. Helmick, S.J. -- pg.110

7. The Theological Is Also Personal: The “Place” of Evangelical Protestant Women in the Church Alice Mathews -- pg.134

8. Public Works: Bridging the Gap between Theology and Public Ethics William Johnson Everett -- pg.150

9. Christian Scholarship and the Demographic Transformation of the Church Andrew F. Walls -- pg.166

III. HERMENEUTICS: HOW WE UNDERSTAND AND INTERPRET THE BIBLE -- pg.185

10. Theological Literacy for the Twenty-first Century Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. -- pg.200

11. The Ethos of Interpretation: Biblical Studies in a Postmodern and Postcolonial Context Elisabeth Schiissler Fiorenza -- pg.211

12. Living in the Hyphen: Theological Literacy from an Hispanic American Perspective Alvin Padilla -- pg.229

13. Reading the World Religiously: Literate Christianity in a World of Many Religions Francis X. Clooney, S.J. -- pg.242

IV. THE RHETORIC OF THEOLOGY -- pg.257

14. Healing Traumatic Memories: A Spiritual Journey Ruth H. Bersin -- pg.270

15. A Prophetic Religious Education for Y2K and Beyond: And Black Boys Shall See Visions Fred Smith -- pg.292

16. Theological Literacy and Fluency in a New Millennium: A Pastoral Theological Perspective Carrie Doehring -- pg.311

17. Theological Literacy: Some Catholic Reflections Brian O. McDermott, S.J. -- pg.325

18. Theological Literacy: Problem and Promise Wesley J. Wildman -- pg.335

19. Wisdom for Life: The Horizon of Theological Literacy Thomas Groome -- pg.352

V. THEOLOGICAL LITERACY IN SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY -- pg.371

20. Theological Education as Formation for Ministry John E. Maclnnis -- pg.382

21. The Classic Idea of the University: Its Relevance in the Twenty-first Century Jan Milic Lochman -- pg.392

Contributors -- pg.404

Index of Names and Subjects -- pg.414

Index of Scripture References -- pg.420

This volume presents a compendium or different perspectives by leading theological educators on what constitutes theological literacy in the twenty-first century. Structured around the key emphases that have shaped a traditional curriculum in theological education, these insightful essays explore the nature of theology, theology and institutional expression, the practice of hermeneutics in today's context, the rhetoric of theology, and the future of theological education. Throughout their essays, the contributors specifically address or draw from a wide range of confessional stances, making this book valuable to readers from every church tradition.