Knowra Catholic theology Catholic theology Catholic theology is the disciplined study and exposition of the beliefs, doctrines, and practices of the Catholic Church, grounded in Scripture, Tradition, and the Church’s teaching authority.
Bible : The collection of sacred writings that forms the central scriptural canon of Christianity. Catholic theology reads these writings as inspired Scripture within the Church’s living tradition.
Development of doctrine : The unfolding articulation of Christian teaching over time without changing its essential content. It explains how Catholic theology can define teachings more precisely across centuries.
Augustine of Hippo : A late antique Christian bishop and theologian whose writings profoundly shaped Western Christianity. His accounts of grace, sin, and the Trinity became foundational sources for Catholic theology.
Protestant theology : The diverse theological traditions of Christian churches that emerged from the Reformation. Its accounts of Scripture, authority, and justification often differ from Catholic teaching.
Catholic moral theology : The study of moral action and human flourishing in light of Catholic teaching and Christian revelation. It applies theological principles to questions of virtue, conscience, and conduct.
Sacred Tradition : The transmission of Christian teaching and practice from the apostles through the life of the Church. It carries teachings and interpretive practices that Catholic theology considers alongside Scripture.
Ecumenical council : A formal gathering of bishops of the worldwide Church convened to address doctrine and discipline. Councils have clarified major teachings that structure Catholic theology.
Thomas Aquinas : A thirteenth-century Dominican theologian and philosopher known for synthesizing Christian doctrine with Aristotelian thought. His works remain major models of systematic Catholic theology.
Eastern Orthodox theology : The theological tradition of the Eastern Orthodox churches, rooted in the early councils and Byzantine Christianity. It shares much early doctrine with Catholicism while differing over papal authority and other questions.
Catholic social teaching : The body of Catholic teaching on human dignity, social justice, economic life, and political responsibility. It brings theological claims about persons and society to bear on public and economic questions.
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