This book presents the most significant work of the highly esteemed contemporary theologian George Schner, who died in 2000. Gathering together his writing in the areas of theology and the philosophy of religion, it offers a distinct contribution to our understanding of the prospects and perils of undertaking theology in the Christian tradition at the present juncture. Engaging key texts in philosophy of religion from the modern period, recent official Roman Catholic teaching related to the basis and doing of theology, and the work of key representatives of the so-called 'Yale School' of post-liberal theology, the essays collected here represent acute and historically informed judgment upon the problematique of the practice of contemporary theology. Drawing together a substantial body of work of recognized intellectual scope, philosophical rigour and theological richness, this volume provides invaluable insight into key questions regarding theological method, the importance of modern philosophy of religion, the nature of theological discourse and contemporary Catholic theological reflection.

Mark A. Husbands, Philip G.Ziegler

Contents: Editors' foreword; Introduction: Philosophy and the practices of Christianity, John Webster; Engaging the Catholic Tradition: 'New ways of speaking with love and mercy': Veritas Splendor and the teaching responsibility of the Church in our times; Faith, reason and theological method - Fides et Ratio; A commentary on the dogmatic constitution on Divine Revelation - Dei Verbum; Therapeutics of a philosophical tradition: Hume's Dialogues and the redefinition of the philosophy of religion; Hegel, the Spiritual Exercises and making present the past; A temple for the passions - engaging in a struggle with language; Philosophical theology: Philosophy within the study of theology; On theology - a speech to its cultured despisers; The appeal to experience; Christian theology at century's turning: The Eclipse of Bibilical Narrative - an analysis and critique; Hans Frei's Types of Christian Theology - a typology and its theological presuppositions; Theology's conversation with biblical studies: historical, critical, systematic, doctrinal; Scripture, modernity and patristic principles; Bibliography: Bibliography of the writings of George P. Schner, S.J.; Indexes.