The School of Theology of the University of Navarra celebrated from October 4 to 6 the XXXV International Symposium on Theology (download program in PDF), focused on 'Theology and University'. This meeting, which brought together about a hundred experts from different countries, was at the same time the starting point of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the SchoolThe main event was held on Friday, October 6.

The relationship between Theology and the University throughout history was studied during two days at conference . "Theology and the university were at the beginning of the University itself, and they continue to be discussed, even by those who see their coexistence as problematic in our days. They are mutually enriching or mutually mutilating, depending on how both are understood in themselves, and with a view to forging the future of humanity," said César Izquierdo, Associate Dean of the School and president of the symposium.

Eight presentations and two round tables

The meeting started on Wednesday, October 4, with the session "The idea of university" and was given by José Ignacio Murillo, professor of School of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Navarra. "Truth, rationality, university" is the topic of the second discussion paper, given by Professor Cyrille Michon, from the Centre Atlantique de Philosophie of the University of Nantes.

John Milbank, professor at the University of Nottingham, was in charge of the third discussion paper, centered on "Theology in the university". Serafín Béjar, professor at the School de Teología de Granada, spoke on "The university vocation of theology" at the fourth discussion paper.

In the afternoon, roundtable "The dialogue between natural sciences and Humanities: towards a synthesis multidisciplinary in the knowledge of man" was held. The speakers were: Carmen Cavada, professor of the School of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Madrid; Isabel Mª León, professor of the School of Theology of the University of Navarra; and Giulio Maspero, professor of the School of Theology of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

In the first discussion paper on Thursday, October 5, and fifth of the Symposium, "Truth and Authority: Science versus Dogma?" was addressed by Professor César Izquierdo. Alister Mc Grath, from the University of Oxford, was in charge of the fifth session and during the same he spoke on "Proposals for an inclusive scientific theory".

The seventh discussion paper, "Fundamental rights, university and religious freedom", was presented at position by Zoila Combalía, from the University of Zaragoza; and the eighth, centered on "The constitution 'Ex corde Ecclesiae', was presented at position by Luis Romera, from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

The specific pastoral aspect of the university was the topic of the roundtable on Thursday, October 5, with the participation of Alvaro Pereira, from the University of Seville; Eduardo Terrasa, from the University of Navarra; and Hilario Mendo, from the Complutense University.