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Theological Forum
Common meaning
hinges on a community's common experience, understanding, judgment,
and commitment, he said. While there can be diversity and
disagreement within a community that shares these four elements,
discussion cannot move forward once the members no longer share this
common vocabulary. "If you take one of these elements out," he said,
"you begin to undo community."
 Braxton
said maintaining common meaning is essential in the study of
theology, which has become so complex that no individual scholar or
bishop can be an expert on everything. "All theological work is
necessarily collaborative today," he noted, adding that bishops and
theologians must work together with clear communication and common
meaning to recognize their distinct roles and contributions.
At the heart of the theology being communicated and shared, however,
is conversion, Braxton explained. "Ever-deepening ecclesial and
intellectual conversion is an essential context for the apt
formulation of the Church's understanding of the Eucharist," he
said. Braxton said this conversion must transform a theologian's
horizon. "Conversion engages the whole person, not unlike falling in
love." Shortcomings in this personal conversion - the opposite of
which Braxton described as "breakdown" - have led theologians to
erroneous views on things like the Eucharist, he said, adding that
good theology depends on a strong faith. "Theologians do not produce
religions; religions produce theologians."
Braxton also said the context of theological work can also shape a
scholar's views. He described three contexts for doing theology - a
Church setting in which the theologian is at the service of the
Church, a University setting in which the theologian tests religion
against modern critical thought, and a Social Change setting in
which the theologian translates Christian doctrine into social
change. Braxton said theological work in all three contexts added to
the discussion but cautioned that the heart of theology must remain
personal conversion. "The end result of theology must be the
transformation of people in their daily life situation."
This was the fifth annual Theological Forum at Notre Dame Seminary,
although Braxton apologized for being late - Hurricane Katrina
delayed his presentation by a year. Notre Dame also hosts the
Philosophical Forum in the spring semester.
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