Liverpool Living Theology 2006

"A Summer School on Christian Faith"

Understanding your everyday faith”

Held on Monday, 24th July - Friday 28th July

  At

Hope University

Everton Campus

Liverpool

Main Speaker

Michael Kirwan SJ

"Sacred Terror: Religious violence in the modern world "

 In the Utopian vision of John Lennon's "Imagine", we are asked to think about a world without divisions: no possessions, no countries "and no religion too". While religious believers think of their faith as something that brings out the best in human beings, for many other people religion signifies intolerance, prejudice and violence. At the very heart of the Christian faith (our proclamation that "God is love"), we venerate an innocent man who was tortured and brutally executed. And yet too often in history it is Christians who have been the persecutors: examples such as the Inquisition, the Crusades and the Church's history of anti-Semitism are never far from peoples' minds. In the modern age, the rise of fundamentalism and religiously-inspired violence such as the 9/11 atrocity has merely reinforced the impression that religious conviction leads inevitably to conflict. This course will examine the ways open to us for thinking responsibly about the relationship between violence and religion. It will examine some of the key thinkers who have addressed this question, and we will address specifically the issue of what we are to do with texts (for example in the Scriptures) which seem to engender or encourage conflict.

Michael Kirwan is a Jesuit Priest teaching theology at Heythrop College, University of London. His main research interest arises from the work of René Girard who has explored the relationships between religion, culture and violence. His book "Discovering Girard" was published in 2004.

OPTIONAL COURSES

(For the morning sessions participants chose one course from Series A

and one course from Series B. All attended the afternoon Main Course)

Series A

"Living our faith: making decisions in the context of our relationshiop with God "
with Ruth Holgate

Living as Christians in a complex world involves making decisions, but we do not find it easy to discern the `will of God'. How do we know if we are doing what God wants? How can we freely discern, and listen to, the quiet voice of God when so many other aspects of life demand our attention? Drawing on the insights of Ignatius of Loyola, this course will consider a theology of discernment that underpins a practical and life enhancing approach to Christian decision making. 

Ruth Holgate is a lay woman and Jesuit Associate who is currently Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Glasgow.  Previously she was on the staff of Loyola Hall. As a spiritual director and retreat giver in the Ignatian tradition, Ruth has a particular interest in discernment and decision making and how we articu­late a living, practical faith.

"The Drama of Saint Mark's Gospel"
with Fr Ian Tomlinson SJ

Mark's Gospel is a story of constant movement. Jesus always seems to be on the go. At first Jesus is received with amazement and admiration but fairly soon opposition arises. Jesus works powerful miracles. He lived with the poor and the suffering. As the opposition hardens, Jesus concentrates on training his disciples. The drama of the Gospel centres on the identity of Jesus. "Who is he?" As followers of Jesus and hearers of the Gospel, we too have much to learn from him. What does it mean to say with the Roman centurion, "Truly this man was the Son of God?" (This year the Church reads St Mark's Gospel).

Ian Tomlinson SJ taught in Jesuit secondary schools for a number of years, worked in a north London parish and was formerly novice director of the British Province. He is now director of Loyola Hall Spirituality Centre, Rainhill.

"The Eucharist makes the Church- Reflections for those who receive"
with Sr Una Coogan

This course will look at an introduction to Eucharistic Ecclesiology. It will explore the meaning of this term and try to understand its meaning for us today. We will try and develop the concept of the true body of Christ, to consider the relationship between the Church and the sacrament of Salvation. I hope we will then move on to consider the power of the bishops and finally how the doctrine of Eucharistic Ecclesiology has social implications for each one of us who partake in it.

 Una Coogan is an IBVM (Loreto) sister, working at Loyola Hall, an Ignatian retreat centre. Her interests lie in Practical theology, especially in the area of mission. Una is currently studying for a DM from the University of Wales (Lampeter).

Series B

"Religion and Society" "
with Fr Tony Carroll SJ

What is society? What makes it stable and what causes it to change? What part does religion play in social processes? In this course we will consider some of the answers given to these questions by the three founders of social theory: Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. We will also note some contemporary responses to the question of religion and society and outline some elements of Catholic Social theory. The course will be lecture based with time for questions and discussion. No background knowledge is required and a handout will be provided for each lecture.

Tony Carroll SJ teaches philosophy and theology at Heythrop College University of London. He did Philosophy Studies at Manchester and Frankfurt and his Theology studies in Paris and Frankfurt. His Doctorate was on secularisation theory in Max Weber's work and his research interests are Catholic education, early social theory, continental philosophy and philosophical theology.

"A Way to the Trinity"
with Fr Gerry O'Mahoney SJ

A course based on Gerry O'Mahony's book of the same title. It aims to bring the Trinity out of the Front Parlour into our everyday lives. The life of a Christian is to go with Jesus to the Father, in the Holy Spirit. How to make that a simple part of life, without doing mental gymnastics? What did the Father and the Spirit mean to Jesus, and why was he so eager to share his place in the Trinity with us sinners?

Gerry O'Mahony SJ was born in Wigan and ordained in 1964. He taught for 4 years (including one year in Widnes). He was R.E. adviser to teachers in the Liverpool Archdiocese 1971-1981. He has been working as a retreat-giver from 1983 until the present. He is the author of many books, including "A Way in to the Trinity" (2004).

"Living Liturgy: What makes Liturgy alives as opposed to a routine observation of ritual?"
Led by members of the Liverpool Archdiocesan Liturgy Commission

These sessions are designed to make us think about what constitutes good liturgy and how everyone involved, priest, minister, people are vital constituents in the making or breaking of a celebration. Elemen ts of liturgy such as symbol, music and art are roored in human experience. Some of the sessions will explore how these elements have developed throughout the centuries while other sessions will show how these elements are still used today to lead people to the presence of God in Word and in Eucharist.

MAIN COURSE FOR EVERYONE

2.00pm Daily

THEOLOGY AND EXPERIENCE

3.30pm Daily

WHAT CHRISTIANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT …. Islam, Judaism and other topics