Right relations: A test of the “practical” trinitarian doctrine of God for ecclesiology in the theologies of Catherine Mowry LaCugna and Edward Schillebeeckx
Abstract
This dissertation argues that the trinitarian doctrine interpreted by Catherine LaCugna and Edward Schillebeeckx has a practical character and therefore implications for right relations of equality and mutuality within the church that come to expression in a feminist theology of the mission, nature, and structure of the church. Chapter 1 reviews some factors which lead to the interpretation of doctrine through a practical hermeneutic and demonstrates how three theologians have practically applied the doctrine of the Trinity: Moltmann and Boff to political ethics and McFague to ecological ethics. Chapter 2 explores why it is important to reconceive the Trinity as a mystery of salvation. It begins to make connections between the saving missions of Christ and the Spirit and what would be the mission of the church. Chapter 3 analyzes the ways in which LaCugna and Schillebeeckx point to the nature of God and explores the theology of revelation and the category of relation in both. It begins to make connections between the nature of God and the church that participates in God's nature. Chapter 4 examines the patterns of relations suggested by the trinitarian doctrine. It investigates the ways in which LaCugna and Schillebeeckx describe the patterns of relations suggested by the trinitarian doctrine, including relational ontology. It begins to establish the connections between the patterns of relations suggested by the it (equality and mutuality) and what would be the patterns of relations in the church. Chapter 5 tests the practicality of the doctrine of the Trinity in these theologians. It revisits the elements of the doctrine to explore their potential as a basis for ecclesiology, extends initial suggestions about ecclesiology, and brings into view insights of three feminist theologians who advocate right relations in the church: Schüssler Fiorenza and the “discipleship of equals,” Radford Ruether and “women-church,” and Russell and various metaphors for church. Throughout, the dissertation searches for a correlation between the mission and nature of the Trinity and the patterns of relations suggested by the Trinity and what would be the mission, nature, and patterns of relations in the church.
Subject Area
Theology
Recommended Citation
McCormick, Mary T, "Right relations: A test of the “practical” trinitarian doctrine of God for ecclesiology in the theologies of Catherine Mowry LaCugna and Edward Schillebeeckx" (2001). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3017555.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3017555
