Launching Urban Theology: Bishop Porteous

Word had spread, and many were barely able to fit into the room to hear him. 

Expounding the Catholic position on Creation, Evolution and the first man and woman, the Bishop was able to hold the attention of this savvy crowd of young people for over an hour and a half.

In the wake of World Youth Day, bringing our faith to the marketplace (which today is the pub), is what the Church needs to do now, Bishop Porteous said. "I think it's terrific" he said of the idea to host a theology talk in a pub.

"I suggested the topic because I think we need to get back to basics and understand the nature of human life. These are critical issues young people get asked about in the tea room and at uni," the Episcopal Vicar for Renewal and Evangelisation said.

"We need to clarify them now so we get the core ideas right - that is: the nature of the life of the human person and the nature of human life."

Bishop Porteous also discussed the Church's stance on evolution and stressed that the Church and science are not in competition with each other.

"The Church has infallibly defined that the universe was specially created out of nothing," he said quoting the Canons on God the Creator of All Things, canon 5.

"Concerning biological evolution, the Church does not have an official position on whether various life forms developed over the course of time. However, it says that, if they did develop, then they did so under the impetus and guidance of God, and their ultimate creation must be ascribed to him."

"Concerning human evolution, the Church has a more definite teaching. It allows for the possibility that man's body developed from previous biological forms, under God's guidance, but it insists on the special creation of his soul," Bishop Porteous said.

The talk began by explaining classic (non-Catholic) approaches to the universe including Dualism, Manacheanism (which St Augustine followed for a while), Gnosticism and Deism before discussing the Catholic position on the universe and the creation of man and woman.

"Humanity is made in the "in the image of God." Of all visible creatures, only human beings are able to know and love God."

"We are the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake and we alone are called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own life," Bishop Porteous said.

WANT TO KNOW WHERE URBAN THEOLOGY FITS IN?

On the east coast of Australia, the theology-and-drinks formula has succeeded in several capital cities, such as in Sydney with Theology on Tap, in Melbourne with Theology @ the Pub and more recently in Brisbane with Faith on Tap emerging in the wake of WYD.

Urban Theology is the latest offering to young people in this line up but it is "not in competition."

 However, given Sydney does have 'Theology on Tap,' how does Urban Theology differ? By the crowd it brings in:  young professionals in business attire after work.

A journalist for the Sky News Business Channel, Ky Chow, who initiated the CBD theology talk series, said the inspiration came from the wildly popular Theology on Tap and says ToT organisers are very supportive of the venture.

"Urban Theology is in no way competing with ToT," he stressed. "It's an alternative for those who want it to be, but people should try to get to both – the more good Catechism and Catholic company, the better!," he said.

"I [myself] go to Theology on Tap pretty regularly and ToT has shown us that you can have good traditional Catholic teaching, yet delivered in an intellectual way that suits thinking young adults today."

"To me, it's no secret that the Church has had difficulty retaining the youth with its more controversial teachings. Some of it may have been watered down in the past, no doubt with the best of intentions, but I don't think a whole lot of people have found fulfilment in that convenient type of Catholicism," Mr Chow continued.

"On the other hand, an inquisitive young mind isn't built to have beliefs imposed on it either. So I can understand why Theology on Tap has been so successful with its approach of converting a regular social environment into a place where people can learn orthodox Catholicism, but in an intelligent way."

One loyal Theology on Tap devotee who hopes she won't have to choose between 'Theology on Tap' and 'Urban Theology' came to the first 'Urban Theology' talk on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old high school teacher, Sarah Saccasan, appreciated Urban Theology for what it had to offer alongside other events for young people have 'on tap' at the moment in Sydney.

"It's nice that it's an older crowd [at Urban Theology]. It's affirming to come and see other young Catholics. It's a feel good experience but also formation," Ms Saccasan said.

The theme for the first talk of the series was no one-off idea and next month's talk will be a follow on from this week's "back to basics" beginning.

WANT MORE INFO?

For more information on Urban Theology (Sydney CBD) visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32556642026

For more information on Faith on Tap (Brisbane) visit www.faithontap.org.au  

For more information on Theology at the Pub (Melbourne) visit www.theologyatthepub.com.au

For more information on Theology on Tap (Sydney) visit www.ndstms.com.au

For more information visit or find the groups on Facebook and XT3.com

Images Courtesy of Giovanni Portelli