Theology Department
The Theology major at Bellarmine University probes the ultimate questions of our existence: What is the meaning and purpose of life? What are our obligations to God and to each other? Theology majors will explore these issues through the study of theology, comparative religions, spirituality, morality, and social justice. Students will develop their communication and critical thinking skills. A Theology major provides the student with a sound liberal arts background.
Rich Setting for Theological Study
Louisville is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville and the national center for the Presbyterian Church USA. The Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary are close to the Bellarmine campus, and St. Meinrad School of Theology and Benedictine Abbey is in the region. The Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption houses the Cathedral Heritage Foundation which sponsors the annual Festival of Faiths, a nationally recognized celebration of religious diversity and theological thought. The Bellarmine Theology Department sponsors an annual lecture or event aimed at bringing recognized scholars to the area. There are ample opportunities for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and for theological and spiritual growth in the area.
Bellarmine University houses the International Thomas Merton Center, which maintains the complete collection of the writings and work of and about Thomas Merton and makes it available to visiting scholars. The Abbey at Gethsemani, where Merton lived and worked, is a short distance from Louisville. The Theology Department offers immersion learning experiences through theology courses periodically held at the Abbey.
Upcoming Events Related to the Theology Department
The Merton Center has its annual Merton Black History Month Lecture coming up on Wednesday 27th February at 7 pm. This year the lecture will be given by M. Shawn Copeland of Boston College. Her lecture will be entitled: "The Wound and the Witness: Merton and King and the Exercise of the Prophetic." Full details are available on the Merton Center website at: http://merton.org/Events/#SC.
Dr. Glen Stassen will be giving a lecture on the Just Peacemaking in the Middle East on Thursday, March 14 at 7:00 PM in Hilary's. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Our first annual Theology Department Colloquy will be on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 PM in the Fireplace Room. All current students and faculty at BU are invited to attend.
Careers in Theology
Faculty
Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, Ph.D, Chair (email) (Full Profile)
J. Milburn Thompson, Ph.D (email) (Full Profile)
Clyde Crews, Ph.D, University Historian and Archival Coordinator
Joseph Flipper (email)
Gregory K. Hillis, Ph.D (email) (Full Profile)
George A. Kilcourse, Ph.D (email)
Deborah Prince, Ph.D (email)
Brief Faculty Profiles
Study Abroad
Bellarmine offers a wide variety of study abroad options on 6 continents in over 50 countries and at over 150 partner campuses around the globe.
Contact Us
Theology Department
Bellarmine University
2001 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40205
502.272.8188