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RATZINGERS FAITH:THEOLOGY OF POPE BENEDICT 16TH PAPER: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI
The first serious assessment of the Pope's theological vision, this thoughtful volume situates the thought of Benedict XVI within the intellectual history and academic circles of his time, exploring topics such as the interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, Benedict's relations with other important scholars and theologians, and his attitudes on moral and political theology, western culture, the structure of the Catholic Church, liturgy, and love. It is a common observation that Pope Benedict has been influenced by the thought of St. Augustine in contrast to many of his predecessors in the papacy who were much more strongly influenced by St. Thomas Aquinas. This work therefore addresses the topic of in what way Benedict is an Augustinian. The volume also includes a bibliography arranged thematically for those who want to explore his thought more deeply in a particular area. A penetrating account of the thought of the reigning pontiff, this volume offers a wealth of insight for everyone interested in Pope Benedict.
232 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2008
About the author
Tracey Rowland
45 books14 followersTracey Rowland holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (Australia). She is also an Honorary Fellow of Campion College, Sydney and a member of the editorial board of Communio: International Catholic Review.
From 2014-2019 she was a member of the Ninth International Theological Commission. In 2020 she won the Ratzinger Prize for theology.
She holds degrees in law and political philosophy as well as two doctorates in theology: one from the Divinity School of Cambridge University and the other pontifical doctorate (STD) from the Lateran University in Rome.
From 2014-2019 she was a member of the Ninth International Theological Commission. In 2020 she won the Ratzinger Prize for theology.
She holds degrees in law and political philosophy as well as two doctorates in theology: one from the Divinity School of Cambridge University and the other pontifical doctorate (STD) from the Lateran University in Rome.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 20, 2013
Excellent introduction to the theology of Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. Kind of a biography of his theology and view of the liturgy. The book was very solid and found it to be a good presentation.
November 22, 2017
Si consideramos los escritos del Papa emérito , está dentro de su filosofía. Como gran teologo y filosofo describe con un gran razonamiento y documentación su relación entre la fe y la razon , su lucha constante. Se muestra ,como es habitual en sus escritos como un erudito. Muy agradable en su lectura.
May 7, 2024
This really is a great "serious assessment of the [former] Pope's theological vision." Only a profound mind with life experience could understand Ratzinger and then write a good summary of him like this.
April 6, 2014
This is an excellent survey of Benedict XVI's theology. Rowland begins with an explanation of the various competing groups within Roman Catholicism before and after Vatican II; discuses different views regarding nature and grace; outlines Catholicism's views of culture, economics, and politics; explains Benedict's views on Scripture and Tradition; discusses the relation of love to morality in Benedict's theology; and overviews Benedict's approach to liturgy.
I found the opening chapter with its discussion of differing factions within Roman Catholicism the most interesting. Rowland identifies these groups as the Neo-Thomists, the French Ressourcement scholars, and the German and Belgian transcendental Thomists. The Neo-Thomists emerged in the Counter Reformation. The developed a "two-tier" view of nature and grace in defense against Protestant teaching about depravity. Rowland notes that at Vatican II the Ressourcement scholars and the Transcendental Thomists united to defeat the Neo-Thomists. By the 1970s these two groups had split. Rowland notes that Karol Wojtyla/Pope John Paul II "straddled . . . both circles." Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI is located with the Ressourcement group. The Ressourcement scholars opposed the Neo-Thomists because they worried that their dualism "unwittingly fostered the secularization of western culture." The Transcendental Thomists, led by Karl Rahner, were much more sympathetic to modernity than the Ressourcement theologians. Whether Ratzinger is conservative or not depends on one's location. Rowland notes that he is not conservative from the perspective of a Neo-Thomist. He is "decidedly" so from the perspective of the Transcendental Thomists.
One interesting aspect of the nature/grace discussion is that theologians like Herman Bavinck leveled criticism against Roman Catholicism for its nature/grace dualism. Recently some have criticized Bavinck for misreading Thomas. Yet it is important to recognize that Bavinck was reading Thomas as he had been read by Roman Catholics from the time of the Reformation until Vatican II.
Though Rome has moved closer to a Protestant position on nature and grace (thus making it an attractive ally for Protestants in the culture wars), the substance of many Protestant concerns remain. Rowland unpacks Benedict's view of purgatory and indulgences at one place. She notes his support for Mariology to balance masculine aspects of the church. Benedict's views of Tradition and Scripture as well as his views of the liturgy also place him at odds with orthodox Protestants. In addition, conservative Protestants may well find that he has conceded too much to modernist scholars in his biblical interpretation. Worship practices also remain a point of division between Rome and Protestantism, though on the matter of music, traditional Protestants will find themselves in agreement with the pope emeritus: "Ratzinger concludes none the less that it is difficult to lay down a priori musical criteria . . . —'it is easier to say what ought to be excluded than included.' He is, however, quite sure that all rock music should be excluded, 'not for aesthetic reasons, not out of reactionary stubbornness, not because of historical rigidity but because of its very nature,' which is neo-Dionysian."
For someone looking for a careful, detailed study of Ratzinger's theology, which opens a window onto the theological schools and debates of modern Roman Catholic theology, there is probably not a better book.
I found the opening chapter with its discussion of differing factions within Roman Catholicism the most interesting. Rowland identifies these groups as the Neo-Thomists, the French Ressourcement scholars, and the German and Belgian transcendental Thomists. The Neo-Thomists emerged in the Counter Reformation. The developed a "two-tier" view of nature and grace in defense against Protestant teaching about depravity. Rowland notes that at Vatican II the Ressourcement scholars and the Transcendental Thomists united to defeat the Neo-Thomists. By the 1970s these two groups had split. Rowland notes that Karol Wojtyla/Pope John Paul II "straddled . . . both circles." Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI is located with the Ressourcement group. The Ressourcement scholars opposed the Neo-Thomists because they worried that their dualism "unwittingly fostered the secularization of western culture." The Transcendental Thomists, led by Karl Rahner, were much more sympathetic to modernity than the Ressourcement theologians. Whether Ratzinger is conservative or not depends on one's location. Rowland notes that he is not conservative from the perspective of a Neo-Thomist. He is "decidedly" so from the perspective of the Transcendental Thomists.
One interesting aspect of the nature/grace discussion is that theologians like Herman Bavinck leveled criticism against Roman Catholicism for its nature/grace dualism. Recently some have criticized Bavinck for misreading Thomas. Yet it is important to recognize that Bavinck was reading Thomas as he had been read by Roman Catholics from the time of the Reformation until Vatican II.
Though Rome has moved closer to a Protestant position on nature and grace (thus making it an attractive ally for Protestants in the culture wars), the substance of many Protestant concerns remain. Rowland unpacks Benedict's view of purgatory and indulgences at one place. She notes his support for Mariology to balance masculine aspects of the church. Benedict's views of Tradition and Scripture as well as his views of the liturgy also place him at odds with orthodox Protestants. In addition, conservative Protestants may well find that he has conceded too much to modernist scholars in his biblical interpretation. Worship practices also remain a point of division between Rome and Protestantism, though on the matter of music, traditional Protestants will find themselves in agreement with the pope emeritus: "Ratzinger concludes none the less that it is difficult to lay down a priori musical criteria . . . —'it is easier to say what ought to be excluded than included.' He is, however, quite sure that all rock music should be excluded, 'not for aesthetic reasons, not out of reactionary stubbornness, not because of historical rigidity but because of its very nature,' which is neo-Dionysian."
For someone looking for a careful, detailed study of Ratzinger's theology, which opens a window onto the theological schools and debates of modern Roman Catholic theology, there is probably not a better book.
August 19, 2016
I really did enjoy this book, it's not really a biography, but it is a highly readable and careful journey through Ratzinger's theology. It places him within the Nouvelle Theologie, the Communio group, rather than the liberals, incl. Rahner etc.
February 15, 2008
This book appears to be actually entitled "Ratzinger's Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI". Short, well-written, and an excellent overview of his thought.
August 12, 2016
I can't think of a better intro to the thought of Cardinal Ratzinger and his place in the theological debates that shaped Vatican II and its aftermath. Well done Tracey Rowland!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews