Catholic Theology: An Introduction

Catholic Theology: An Introduction is an accessible, comprehensive and in–depth examination of Catholic theology, exploring how it is rooted in and informs Catholic practice.  The text provides an overview of all the major topics of Catholic theology from the Trinity and the Church to prayer and the sacraments.

For each topic, the authors weave together discussion of the Bible, historical texts, reflections by important theologians, and contemporary debates and sources for a nuanced look at Catholic belief and practice. They discuss scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, and moral aspects of Catholic theology. The text places particular emphasis on the interconnectedness of various beliefs and the breadth of sacramental, devotional, and moral practices within the Catholic faith. Appropriate for students at all levels, this text assumes no prior knowledge of the topic while providing depth and insight to engage those readers more familiar with the topic. 

Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt is Professor of Theology at Loyola University Maryland and a deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is a former editor of Modern Theology and the author of several books, including Why the Mystics Matter Now (2003) and Thomas Aquinas: Faith, Reason, and Following Christ (2013). He is co–editor of The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism (Wiley Blackwell, 2011) and has published numerous articles on medieval and modern theology.

James J. Buckley is Professor of Theology at Loyola University Maryland. He has been on the editorial boards of Modern Theology and Pro Ecclesia: A Journal for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, and is a member of the North American Lutheran Catholic Dialogue. He is author of Seeking the Humanity of God: Practices, Doctrines, and Catholic Theology (1992), co–editor of The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism (Wiley Blackwell, 2011), and has published in a variety of journals.