Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology

07/29/2024

Dear friends of the Colloquy, you can see the full schedule for this year's program at this link.

Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology July 31-Aug 3, 2024 Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030 Wednesday, July 31 3:00-6:00PM: Arrival 6:00-6:30PM: Cocktail Reception (open bar) 6:30-8:30PM: Dinner Thursday, August 1 7:45AM-8:00AM: Mass (Garden Terrace Room) 8:00AM-8:45AM: C...

01/05/2018

Dear Friends of the Colloquy,
Below is the lineup for this summer's BCHT:

13th Annual
Boston College Colloquy in Historical Theology
Aug 2-4, 2018

Plenary: Philipp Rosemann, National University of Ireland (Maynooth),

1. HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WORLD RELIGIONS LECTURE in EASTERN CHRISTIANITY: Marcus Plested, Marquette University,

2. DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL LECTURE in EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES: Anthony Briggman, Emory University,

3. EERDMANS PUBLISHERS LECTURE in EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES: Amy Brown Hughes, Gordon College,

4., BOSTON COLLEGE THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT LECTURE in HISTORICAL THEOLOGY, David Meconi SJ, Saint Louis University,

5. STEPHEN F. BROWN LECTURE in MEDIEVAL FRANCISCAN THOUGHT: Mary Beth Ingham CSJ, Franciscan School of Theology (CA)

6. THOMISTIC INSTITUTE LECTURE in MEDIEVAL DOMINICAN THOUGHT: Dominic Legge OP, Dominican House of Studies (DC)

7. KING’S COLLEGE (LONDON) LECTURE in MEDIEVAL THOUGHT: Monica Brinzei, National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS-France),

8. LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MTS LECTURE in HISTORICAL THEOLOGY: Michael Root, Catholic University of America,

07/30/2017

The final schedule for this year's gathering (including some last-minute changes):

12th Annual
Boston College Colloquy in Historical Theology
Aug 3-5, 2017

Thursday, Aug 3, 2017 (School of Theology & Ministry: 9 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135, Rm 100)

5:00PM: Bruce Marshall (Southern Methodist University), “Martin Luther after 500 Years”

Friday, Aug 4, 2017 (Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030)

8:00AM-8:45AM – Continental Breakfast

1. 9:00-10:15AM: Johannes Zachhuber (Oxford University), “Philosophy and Theology in Late Antiquity: some reflections on concepts and terminologies”

Resp.: Khaled Anatolios, University of Notre Dame

2. 10:45-12:00PM: Bob Sweetman (Institute for Christian Studies, CA), “Admiratio, Imitatio and the Vita Christi in the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas”

Resp: Alice M. Ramos, St. John’s University

12:15-1:15 – Lunch

3. 1:30-2:45PM: Paul Kolbet (Yale Divinity School), “An Augustinian Theology of the Heart’s Privacy”

Resp.: John Gavin, SJ, Holy Cross

4. 3:15-4:30PM: Louis Roy, OP (Dominican University College, CA), “Various Understandings of Religious Experience in Christian Theology”

Resp.: Jeremy Wilkins, Boston College

6:30-7:30 – Dinner

Saturday, Aug 5, 2017 (Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030)

8:00AM-8:45AM – Continental Breakfast

1. 9:00-10:15AM: Eric Perl (Loyola Marymount University), “How (Not) to Ask ‘Why Is There Anything at All?’: Plotinus, Proclus, and Peter van Inwagen”

Resp.: Christopher Cullen, SJ, Fordham University

2. 10:45-12:00PM: Johannes Hoff (Heythrop College, London), “Iconicity and the Anamorphosis of Social Space. Retrieving Nicholas of Cusa”

Resp.: Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ, Franciscan School of Theology

12:15-1:15 – Lunch

3. 2:30-4:00: Hans Boersma (Regent College, CA), [Duke Divinity School Endowed Lecture]

04/05/2017

Dear Friends,
Below is the schedule of papers for this summer's BCHT. Hope to see you there.

12th Annual
Boston College Colloquy in Historical Theology
Aug 3-5, 2017

Thursday, Aug 3, 2017 (School of Theology & Ministry: 9 Lake Street, Brighton, MA 02135, Rm 100)

5:00PM: Joseph Wawrykow (University of Notre Dame), “Aquinas on Christ and Eucharist—and the Engagement with the Greek Fathers”

7:15PM: Dinner at Dover

Friday, Aug 4, 2017 (Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030)

8:00AM-8:45AM – Continental Breakfast

1. 9:00-10:15AM: Robin Darling Young (Catholic University of America), “Origen and Evagrius Interpreting the Psalms”
Resp.: John Gavin, SJ, Holy Cross

2. 10:45-12:00PM: Louis Roy, OP, (Dominican University College, CA), “Various Understandings of Religious Experience in Christian Theology”
Resp.: Jeremy Wilkins, Boston College

12:15-1:15 – Lunch

3. 1:30-2:45PM: Johannes Zachhuber (Oxford University), “Philosophy and Theology in Late Antiquity: some reflections on concepts and terminologies”
Resp.: Khaled Anatolios, University of Notre Dame

4. 3:15-4:30PM: Bob Sweetman (Institute for Christian Studies, CA), “Admiratio, Imitatio and the Vita Christi in the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas”
Resp: Alice M. Ramos, St. John’s University

6:30-7:30 – Dinner

Saturday, Aug 5, 2017 (Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030)

8:00AM-8:45AM – Continental Breakfast

1. 9:00-10:15AM: Eric Perl (Loyola Marymount University), “How (Not) to Ask ‘Why Is There Anything at All?’: Plotinus, Proclus, and Peter van Inwagen”
Resp.: Christopher Cullen, SJ, Fordham University

2. 10:45-12:00PM: Johannes Hoff (Heythrop College, London), “Synesthesia and the Anamorphosis of Social Space: Retrieving Nicholas of Cusa”
Resp.: Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ, Franciscan School of Theology

12:15-1:15 – Lunch

3. 2:30-4:00: Hans Boersma (Regent College, CA), [Duke Divinity School Endowed Lecture], “Speech and Vision in Dante’s Transhumanizing Journey”
Resp.: Junius Johnson, Baylor University

4:45-5:45 — Roundtable Discussion (TBD)

5:45-6:15 — Mass

6:15PM-7:00PM – Drinks
7:00PM-9:00PM – Dinner

01/31/2017

Dear Friends of the BCHT,

It's my pleasure to announce the lineup for this summer's Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology, meeting at BC Dover Conference Center, Aug 3-5, 2017. I will be announcing paper titles in a few weeks, but I wanted to let you all know of the dates and the lineup of speakers as soon as they were in place.

On behalf of my BC colleagues, let me say that we're delighted at this year's excellent roster of speakers, including our plenary speaker, Joseph Wawrykow, of the University of Notre Dame.

There are a couple of new aspects of the BCHT this year, which I will be announcing in subsequent emails. For now, let me draw your attention to the fact that one of our lectures this summer (see below) will be sponsored by Duke Divinity School, thanks to the generous efforts of Warren Smith and Paul Griffiths. This type of relationship, wherein we invite other academic institutions and publishers to endow an individual lectureship, is something we are beginning to explore this year, as part of a new funding structure for the BCHT. (If anyone would like to learn more about these relationships, please let me know!)

We hope to see as many of you as possible this summer.

12th Annual
Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology

Plenary : Joseph Wawrykow, University of Notre Dame

1. Hans Boersma, Regent College (CA) [Duke Divinity School - Endowed Lectureship]
2. Johannes Hoff, Heythrop College, London
3. Eric Perl, Loyola Marymount University
4. Louis Roy, O.P., Dominican University College (CA)
5. Bob Sweetman, Institute for Christian Studies (CA)
6. Robin Darling Young, Catholic University of America
7. Johannes Zachhuber, Oxford University

08/01/2016

Our schedule, going forward:

Monday, August 1, 2016 (Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030)

8:00AM-8:45AM – Continental Breakfast

1. 9:00-10:15AM: Alexis Torrance, University of Notre Dame, “Perpetual progress or eternal rest? Theorizing the eschaton in early Byzantine theology”
Response: Matthew Briel, Assumption College

2. 10:45-12:00PM: Junius Johnson, Baylor University, “Exemplarity and the Nature of the Causes: A Prologue to Bonaventure’s Metaphysics”
Response: Dominic Monti OFM, St. Bonaventure University

12:15-1:15 – Lunch

3. 1:30-2:45PM: Han-Luen Kantzer-Komline, Western Theological Seminary, “Always Something New out of Africa: Augustine and the Argument from Antiquity”
Response: John Peter Kenney, St. Michael’s College

4. 3:15-4:30PM: Andreas Speer, Universität zu Köln/Thomas-Instituts, “Sapientia christiana: Rethinking Bonaventure on Philosophy and Theology”
Response: Philipp Rosemann, University of Dallas

5. 5:00-5:30PM: European Research Presentation (1)

6:30-7:30 – Dinner for those staying at Dover

Tuesday, August 2, 2016 (Dover Retreat Center: 20 Glen St. Dover, MA 02030)

8:00AM-8:45AM – Continental Breakfast

1. 9:00-10:15AM: Lydia Schumacher, University of Edinburgh, “The Summa Halensis on the Hypostatic Union: A Key Intervention in Medieval Debates about the Metaphysics of the Incarnation”
Response: Corey Barnes, Oberlin University

2. 10:45-12:00PM: Brian Daley, University of Notre Dame, “Growth towards Freedom: Gregory of Nyssa on Death and Eternal Life”
Response: J. Warren Smith, Duke Divinity School

12:15-1:00 – Lunch

3. 1:00-1:45PM: European Research Presentation (2):

4. 2:30-4:00: Ulrich Lehner, Marquette University, “Rediscovering a Lost Past: Trent and Catholic Enlightenment”
Response: Jim Keating, Providence College

5. 5:00-5:30PM: European Research Presentation (3)

6:30-7:30 – Closing Dinner for those staying at Dover

08/01/2016

We are underway!

04/19/2016

Dear Friends of the BCHT,

It's that time of year again when I need to get as accurate a count as possible of anticipated attendees to this summer's BCHT. So, if you're not local to Boston, and you've not already RSVP'd affirmatively (and you're not part of one of sub-groups also attending), please do so asap. FYI: The line-up of papers is below.

Kind regards and thanks in advance!

-BtC

Brian Daley, University of Notre Dame, “Growth towards Freedom: Gregory of Nyssa on Death and Eternal Life”

Paul Gavrilyuk, University of St. Thomas, “The Sophiological Subtext of Georges Florovsky's Neopatristic Theology”

Junius Johnson, Baylor University, “Exemplarity and the Nature of the Causes: A Prologue to Bonaventure’s Metaphysics”

Han-Luen Kantzer-Komline, Western Theological Seminary, “Always Something New out of Africa: Augustine and the Argument from Antiquity”

Ulrich Lehner, Marquette University, “Rediscovering a Lost Past: Trent and Catholic Enlightenment”

Lydia Schumacher, University of Edinburgh, “Early Franciscan Developments in the Doctrine of Divine Immensity: Towards a Middle Way Between Classical Theism and Panentheism”

Andreas Speer, Universität zu Köln/Thomas-Instituts, “Sapientia christiana: Rethinking Bonaventure on Philosophy and Theology”

Alexis Torrance, University of Notre Dame, “Perpetual progress or eternal rest? Theorizing the eschaton in early Byzantine theology”

Boyd Taylor Coolman
Associate Professor of Theology
321 Stokes Hall North
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-3971

03/21/2016

Dear Friends of the Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology,

Please find below the roster of speakers and titles for this summer's 11th annual convening of the BCHT, at Boston College, July 31-Aug 2. Let me know if you plan to attend.

-Boyd Taylor Coolman

11th Annual
Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology
July 31-Aug 2, 2016

Brian Daley, University of Notre Dame, “Growth towards Freedom: Gregory of Nyssa on Death and Eternal Life”

Paul Gavrilyuk, University of St. Thomas, “The Sophiological Subtext of Georges Florovsky's Neopatristic Theology”

Junius Johnson, Baylor University, “Exemplarity and the Nature of the Causes: A Prologue to Bonaventure’s Metaphysics”

Han-Luen Kantzer-Komline, Western Theological Seminary, “Always Something New out of Africa: Augustine and the Argument from Antiquity”

Ulrich Lehner, Marquette University, “Rediscovering a Lost Past: Trent and Catholic Enlightenment”

Lydia Schumacher, University of Edinburgh, “Early Franciscan Developments in the Doctrine of Divine Immensity: Towards a Middle Way Between Classical Theism and Panentheism”

Andreas Speer, Universität zu Köln/Thomas-Instituts, [TBD]

Alexis Torrance, University of Notre Dame, “Perpetual progress or eternal rest? Theorizing the eschaton in early Byzantine theology”

01/25/2016

Dear Friends of the BCHT,

Below is the alphabetized lineup of speakers at next summer's 11th annual convening of the Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology, July 31-August 2, 2016:

Brian Daley, University of Notre Dame
Paul Gavrilyuk, University of St. Thomas
Junius Johnson, Baylor University
Han-Luen Kantzer-Komline, Western Theological Seminary
Ulrich Lehner, Marquette University
Lydia Schumacher, University of Edinburgh
Andreas Speer, Universität zu Köln/Thomas-Instituts
Alexis Torrance, University of Notre Dame

Hope to see you there!

-Boyd Taylor Coolman
Boston College

12/20/2014

Dear Friends of the BCHT,
This coming summer is our 10th anniversary meeting of the "Boston Colloquy in Historical Theology," July 30-Aug 1, 2015 (on the main campus of Boston College). We're celebrating with a star-studded line-up of papers, including Marcia Colish, Kent Emery, Bruce Marshall, Bernard McGinn, Denys Turner, and Robert Wilken, among others. We're also coordinating our meeting with the convening of the International Association for Anselm Studies conference, entitled “Reading Anselm: Context and Criticism” (cfp: http://anselm2015.blogspot.com/), which will meet at Boston College on July 27-30, 2015, overlapping with the BCHT on Thursday, July 30. Should be an historical theology feast! Hope you can join us. If so, please RSVP to me directly.
- Boyd Taylor Coolman
Boston College

An international conference organised under the aegis of the International Association for Anselm Studies and the Institute for Liberal Arts, Boston College, with sponsorship from the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Durham University.

01/01/2014

The 2014 Line-up (7/31-8/2)

Plenary: Gilles Emery OP, Université de Fribourg

1. Peter Martens, Saint Louis University

2. Nicholas Lombardo, Catholic University of America

3. Michel Barnes, Marquette University

4. Sidney Griffith, Catholic University of America

5. Stephen Dumont, University of Notre Dame

6. Ann Astel, University of Notre Dame

7. Philipp W. Rosemann, University of Dallas

8. Kevin Hughes, Villanova University

Thomas Joseph White, leading the concluding discussion