Theology Day 2020: The Bible and the Modern World
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2020
Abstract
Believers have always viewed the Bible as the foundation and heart of divine revelation, but in the modern world, there is considerable confusion both about how to interpret the Bible, and also concerning what role it can have in human self-understanding. This lecture will examine the long road from the Bible’s origins and the presuppositions of its ancient interpreters to the debates of the 16th century Reformation and 18th century Enlightenment to the 21st century and the difficult legacy of this long journey. In an age of science, what can the Bible contribute to human knowledge, and within the Church, what challenges are posed by a historical-critical view of the Scriptures?
Vincent M. Smiles, Ph.D., is a professor of Theology in the Department of Theology of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. He graduated from Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in 1975 with an M.A. in Theology and completed his Ph.D. at Fordham University in 1989. His major publications have been on the letters of Paul, but in recent years his research interests have also turned to the relationship between theology and science. His last book, published by the Liturgical Press in 2011, is The Bible and Science: Longing for God in a Science-Dominated World. He is now working on a book, inspired by the philosophy of Michael Polanyi, titled Being Human: From the Discoveries of Science to the Contemplation of God.
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Recommended Citation
Smiles, Vincent M., "Theology Day 2020: The Bible and the Modern World" (2020). Theology Day Lectures. 32.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_theology_day/32