The presence of Catholic theology at the University of Murcia in light of Bologna Process

Abstract

Nowadays the presence of Catholic theology in Spanish public universities, leaving aside Catholic theology and religious education courses taught in the Faculties of Education within the education degrees, is marked by two very significant presences. One of them directly relates to the creation of chairs of theology: the Chair of Theology at the University of Granada, the Chair of the Three Religions at the University of Valencia, and the Chair of Theology and Religious Studies "Ignacio Ellacuría" at the University Carlos III in Madrid. The main purpose of these chairs is to highlight the special way with which theology looks at the production of knowledge, on the assumption that the most significant elements of religious traditions make meaning and generate proposals that may come into an honest dialogue with other disciplines. The other presence is more significant and is implemented at the University of Murcia, which recognizes theology as a discipline itself, with its own contents. Consequently, this university issues official qualifications, a fact that is made possible because of the relationship established between the OFM Theological Institute of Murcia and the University of Murcia. This work intends to explore the new presence of Catholic theology within the academic framework of the University of Murcia in reference to the Bologna Process.