Over three decades ago, the North American theologian David Tracy described theology as a “conversation between many centers” in a time when “the Western center cannot hold” anymore. Tracy is the Andrew Thomas Greeley and Grace McNichols Greeley Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Catholic Studies and professor of theology and the philosophy of religions at the University of Chicago.

This December two online events address Prof. Tracy's work. On December 4, an online conference; on December 5, an online book launch.

December 4: All are invited to hear three young theologians and philosophers of religion – Simone Kotva (University of Oslo), Isabella Bruckner (Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, Rome), and Yin-An Chen (Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide) – introduce their own visions of theology in a world of many centres/centers.

Our meeting will also explore critically some implications of David Tracy’s own theological and cultural vision on this question in conversation with contributors to Beyond the Analogical Imagination: The Theological and Cultural Vision of David Tracy (Cambridge University Press, 2023).

Digitally hosted by the Research Center “Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society” at the University of Vienna, co-sponsored by the Lumen Christi Institute, Chicago and The University of Chicago Divinity School. Get the details -- and register -- at this page.

December 5:  Book launch for Beyond the Analogical Imagination: The Theological and Cultural Vision of David Tracy, a new volume from Cambridge University Press about the work of Professor David Tracy. Edited by Barnabas Palfrey and Andreas Telser, this work introduces the core themes of Tracy’s thought, critically exploring their relevance for theology today.  This event is being livestreamed from the Common Room, The University of Chicago Divinity School!

Opening: Willemien Otten (University of Chicago) • Presentation of the volume: Barnabas Palfrey (Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge/UK) • Critical readings: John McCarthy (Loyola University, Chicago), Mary Doak (University of San Diego), Ryan Coyne (University of Chicago) • and ending with Q&A with Prof. David Tracy.

Hosted by The University of Chicago Divinity School, co-sponsored by The Lumen Christi Institute.