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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