Understanding and Transformation: The Theology of Bernard Lonergan

This work offers a comprehensive exploration of Bernard Lonergan's theology, delving into his profound engagement with human understanding, faith, history, and the transformative power of grace. Lonergan's approach, deeply rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, integrates philosophical rigor, theological depth, and pastoral sensitivity, addressing the complexities of modernity and the human condition.
By examining key themes such as epistemology, Christology, the church's mission, the dynamics of grace and freedom, the problem of evil, and eschatological hope, this study reveals the coherence and richness of Lonergan's vision. Central to Lonergan's thought is his transcendental method, grounded in the dynamic operations of human consciousness-experiencing, understanding, judging, and deciding-which shape the pursuit of truth, goodness, and meaning.
His emphasis on the unrestricted desire to know frames theology as a collaborative and self-correcting process that engages both faith and reason. Lonergan's theological method, articulated through his eight functional specialties, provides a robust framework for addressing contemporary challenges, including globalization, cultural pluralism, social injustice, and ecological crisis. This study highlights Lonergan's insistence on the communal and historical dimensions of theology, emphasizing the role of the church as a sacrament of unity and a witness to God's kingdom.
It explores his reflections on conversion-intellectual, moral, and religious-as essential for personal and social transformation. Lonergan's Christology and soteriology are shown to be deeply intertwined with his eschatological vision, where the resurrection of Christ serves as both the foundation of hope and the promise of a renewed creation. In engaging with the tensions of modernity-relativism, secularism, and the fragmentation of meaning-Lonergan offers a theology that is both faithful to tradition and responsive to the present.
His thought invites believers to integrate faith and action, contemplation and praxis, in a shared journey toward authenticity and transcendence. Ultimately, Lonergan's theology points to the mystery of God's self-revelation and the transformative power of grace, calling humanity to participate in the unfolding drama of creation and redemption. This work situates Lonergan's contributions within the broader theological landscape, offering a vivid and detailed commentary that underscores the relevance and vitality of his ideas for contemporary thought and practice.