Introduction to Catholic Theology

By: Kevin F. Burke

Narrated by: Kevin F. Burke

This is the theology course you wish you had taken in college or graduate school. This special series surveys the rich landscape of Catholic theology and presents it clearly and passionately. Begin by following your presenter, Rev. Kevin Burke, SJ, dean of the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, through the ancient origins and modern developments of our rich Catholic tradition. Each lecture builds on the next so that you will gain a keen sense for the synthesis of theological thought.

Journey through 2,000 years of prayerful and intelligent reflection and explore what that reflection has revealed about God, human life, the Catholic Church, and Catholic beliefs. This course will challenge and engage you while exploring the major theological questions that have gripped our minds and hearts. You'll discover that your questions about God, Scripture, right living, evil, and love connect you with a rich legacy.

Encounter the great theological ideas with which thoughtful Christians have grappled for centuries, and meet the great theologians who have bequeathed us such a powerful legacy. You will come out of this series with a far deeper and more meaningful understanding of what it means to be Catholic.

©2009 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2009 Now You Know Media Inc.

Title should be introduction to liberation theology

I listened to most of this series a couple of years ago. I finally grew tired of the liberation approach, so I stopped. However, I am researching Catholic Theology and want to compare this to a more traditional approach. I agree with another listener that this series is concerned with the "world," but would disagree that it's not about theology. The lecturer would have you think that most Catholics have scrapped tradition in order to make "theology" more meaningful in this "post-modern world." Liberation theology is a carry-over from the social gospel. It is more interested in saving/helping others in this present world than saving souls. Regardless of which tradition you come from salvation through Jesus Christ toward eternal life has always been the goal of Christianity until the last 100 plus years. This theologian sculpts, rather awkwardly at times, traditional Catholic theology to fit this liberation goal. Early on he makes it clear that tradition isn't that important, but in practice he reinterprets this tradition to fit his liberation agenda. In Catholic theology two major aspects of tradition is the Bible and church history. However, with liberation theology that tradition doesn't determine theology and practice of Catholicisim, but rather the adherents of Catholicism when there is a socio-cultural need. Thus, the Church is more interested in the social than the spiritual when it should be because of the spiritual the Church is concerned with the social. When you redefine tradition to fit a social agenda you no longer have Catholicism or even Christianity, but liberation philosophy with a social justice agenda. Traditional Catholicism preserves the real definition of tradition and from that point helps the poor and needy as evidence of that eternal salvation.

Great insight into Theology

We presented. Well explained topics and great starters guide into theology. well through through topics

Excellent course. Fr Burke is passionate Prof.

All listeners will find this valuable. With plenty of references to contemporary Latin American theologians

a lecture not convincingly read to the listener.

Well researched and cognitively, grammatically constructed. Performance a dry attempt at passion. I imagine a well educated theologian not willing to strip himself of his professional stature.

Eye-opening course

This is a great primer for Catholics, or for anyone who is seeking a deeper understanding of God, faith, grace or life in general. Fr. Burke made me look at things from a totally different perspective, and he explains complex topics in plain English. It’s obvious that he is very passionate about the topic, and also a prayerful person who lives his faith. I will listen to this course again because there’s so much information to take in. Like a great movie, you always pick up on nuances the second or third time through.