Fr. Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C. (University President, 1952-1987)

We do mean to be a great university and a great Catholic university. We are open to all the great questions of our times. We are confident enough, of ourselves and our students, to look at a wide variety of possible answers and to be assured that new light will be brought to bear upon these problems as we discuss them in a Christian context. 

We have no problem with other universities choosing to do their discussing in what might well be a more restrictive context, more secular, less religious, more purely or exclusively scientific and technological. So be it. But we need not be defensive in placing the same discussion in a different context, more universal (which is the meaning of catholic), more Christian, more moral, more spiritual, more open to God, but no less intellectual. We do what we do freely, and in the conviction that the times, and especially the future, will need such an approach.

(“And they called it the University of Notre Dame du Lac,” 1977)

And...

Someone asked me recently: "What is the great problem for the Catholic university in our modem pluralistic society?" I was obliged to answer that the modernCatholic university faces a dual problem. First, because everything in a pluralistic society tends to become homogenized, the Catholic university has the temptation to become like all other universities, with theology and philosophy attached to the academic body like a kind of vermiform appendix, a vestigial remnant, neither useful nor decorative, a relic of the past. If this happens, the Catholic university may indeed become a great university, but it will not be a Catholic university.

The second problem involves understanding that while our society is called religiously pluralistic, it is in fact, and more realistically, secularistic—with theology and philosophy relegated to a position of neglect or, worse, irrelevance. Against this strong tide, the Catholic university must demonstrate that all the human problems which it studies are at base philosophical and theological, since they relate ultimately to the nature and destiny of man. The Catholic university must strive mightily to understand the philosophical and theological dimensions of the modern problems that face man today, and once these dimensions are understood, it must show the relevance of the philosophical and theological approach if adequate solutions are to be found for these problems.

(America Magazine, 1962; republished online February 27, 2015)

Jason Kippenbrock (Biological Sciences, Med Student)

I am writing this letter in support of the undergraduate theology classes as part of the core curriculum, since I have heard that Notre Dame is considering eliminating one or both of the required courses.  This potential revision saddens me.  The two required theology courses that I took during my freshman and sophomore years have left a lasting impact on me, both academically and spiritually, and I do not want future undergraduates to miss out on this crucial part of the Notre Dame education.

Before coming to Notre Dame, I thought that I knew everything that I ever needed to know about being Catholic. My bloated confidence in my comprehension of Christianity was promptly deflated during the Foundations of Theology course I took in the fall of my freshman year. I realized that there was so much about my faith that I did not understand, or that I had taken for granted. The Foundations course challenged me and my faith, and it forced me to appreciate that theology, as a distinct academic discipline, is valuable. If nothing else, the Foundations course forced me to actually open up the Bible and read it. Honestly, without the Foundations course, I probably would have graduated from Notre Dame without even a basic understanding of how to read Scripture.

My second required theology course was also formative. We spent a majority of time each class in discussion, where each of us was able to express our own understanding of the theology topic on hand. The viewpoints held amongst my classmates were diverse, and it was amazing to be able to discuss our religious differences articulately and respectfully. Through it all, our professor was there to teach us how the Church has approached each issue and why. Once again, without my second required theology course, I probably would have graduated from Notre Dame without the capacity to articulately and respectfully share my Catholic faith with others.

I studied biological sciences at Notre Dame, and I am currently a first year medical student. I am in the throes of learning cardiovascular physiology, and I really do not have time to write a letter to the Provost of Notre Dame about changes to the core curriculum which will have no direct impact on my life. But I am writing this letter anyway. I am sacrificing my study time because I feel strongly that the theology requirements are an essential part the undergraduate education. When I think back on my time at Notre Dame, I do not think about the pathways I memorized for organic chemistry or the multitude of cell signaling molecules I encountered in my cell biology course. What I do remember is falling in love with theology, because through my theology classes (which turned into a second major), I became convinced that I wanted to be a physician. Studying theology helped me understand what it means to serve others out of love, not just obligation, in imitation of the Divine Physician. Studying theology is the reason that my future patients will have a truly compassionate doctor, and not someone who is just working for a paycheck.

I love Notre Dame dearly. I want to see her graduates succeed in every aspect of life and to be a great force for good in this country and the whole world. Please do not deprive her students of the gift of theology. Please do not deprive her students of the classes that will help to give meaning to their lives. Please do not attempt to educate the mind at the expense of the heart. If we do remove theology from the core of the curriculum, I fear that Notre Dame may lose its heart as well.

Patrick Greenwood ('73, Law and Accounting)

My senior year, while trying to find just the right course to complete my Theology requirement, I happened upon Theology 250. I knew nothing of C.S. Lewis. In the 40-plus years since I explored Lewis with the guidance of Fr. Robert J. Nogosek, I feel that experience has had a profound effect on my thinking and relationships with God and others. I have gifted copies of A Grief Observed to my grieving friends, but perhaps my favorite eye-opener was and is The Screwtape Letters. Of course these are but two small examples of the rich body of Lewis' writings which are, in turn, but a microcosm of theological studies at Notre Dame. There's something for everyone here! I'm very grateful I had this opportunity.

Raquel Falk (Program of Liberal Studies)

As a sophomore at Notre Dame, I took a theology course that drastically changed the trajectory of my life. Professor Michael Baxter, in his class "Catholic Radicalism," opened my eyes to the lives of Peter Maurin, Dorothy Day, and others who helped shape the Catholic Worker movement. I remember feeling like I had found, for the first time, a model of faithful, lay Catholicism that was both terrifying and invigorating. 

The class "afflicted the comfortable," namely, me, and illustrated examples of radical responses to consumerism, militarization, racism, and class division. After taking the course and spending time at the St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker in South Bend throughout my time as an undergraduate, I felt moved to move into the Catholic Worker upon graduation. 

Without this course, Professor Baxter, and my classmates, I am not sure I would have fallen so in love with the Catholic Worker movement. At the Catholic Worker, I feel I am most free to attempt to live the Gospel with joy, and I am grateful for the Notre Dame theology course that helped me find my way here.

Nicholas Lezynski (Business and Theology)

I am a 2011 graduate of Notre Dame with a Business degree and Theology minor.  I want to reinforce how instrumental the theology courses at Notre Dame were in the development of my education, but most importantly, my faith.  Notre Dame is the premier Catholic institution in the world and therefore, should be a beacon of the study and discussion of Theology, especially among the amazing faculty and young bright minds that Notre Dame brings together.  

As a business major, I was exposed to many of the hard number, scientific, black and white courses that come along with my main pursuit of study.  However, it was my introductory Theology courses in my freshman and sophomore years that inspired me to pursue a minor in Theology.  I took a wide variety of courses within the Major, from World Religions to The New Testament Study of Jesus Christ to Axial Religions.  Not only did my knowledge of other religions increase and grow, which is paramount in our ever-changing world today, but my only Catholic faith strengthened through my understanding of its roots, practices and readings.  I would venture to say the same for virtually all of my classmates, some being Catholic, some not.  

How can we even consider letting a Notre Dame go through 4 years without giving a taste of Theology to them?  Our mission statement as a university would be called into question with the elimination of Theology as a requirement.

Kathy Krauss Zerda ('77, Biology/Microbiology)

My husband (Class of '75) and I (Class of '77) just heard today about the ongoing review of the curriculum for undergraduates.  Naturally, I had to investigate.  From my understanding, a lot of ideas are being discussed, and one of them is to reconsider the requirement for two theology and two philosophy courses in the curriculum.  I don't know if this is a serious consideration, or simply a discussion point being tossed about.  In either case, I would like to express my thoughts.

When I was at ND, I was a Biology/Microbiology major.  Science and math courses taught me discreet facts that were accepted, for the most part, as truth.  My experience with my required theology and philosophy courses was that they challenged me to ponder what I and others believe about this world and the world beyond.  

There are a lot of my college courses that I don't remember, but I do remember those theology and philosophy courses.  They taught me how to think about many things, including my view of God, how our Catholic traditions differs from other Christian traditions (one of my theology courses was team-taught by a Catholic priest and an Anglican priest) and also man's responsibility for the world we live in.  I read a number of excellent books, some of which I still have today.  Needless to say, I would not have chosen to read those books on my own, yet they made a lasting and positive impression on me.  If I consider how my education might have differed if I had been able to opt out of the hard work and discipline of thinking about difficult issues (something that my 18-22 year old self might have done), I can only conclude that my Notre Dame education would have been incomplete.  

My husband and I sent our eldest son to Notre Dame.  My Notre Dame roommates sent their children to Notre Dame.  Why do you think we did that?  

There are many universities to choose from, and most of them are significantly less expensive and closer to home than Notre Dame.  We sent our sons and daughters so they would benefit from the broadening that shaped us and would allow our young people to develop fully as thoughtful, faith-filled, productive and contributing adults.  There was no other reason, because many universities offer high quality major-specific courses.  Notre Dame provides that extra formation that is not required elsewhere.  As you consider all the options for curricular revisions (which is a process I greatly respect -- I recently retired as a university professor myself) please don't diminish what sets Our Lady's university apart from all the rest.

Geoffrey Mooney (Math, Education)

I came to Notre Dame in the fall of 2005 as a math major having had attended Catholic schools since kindergarten. I loved math, but I also grew up with religion as an integral part of the curriculum each year. During high school I developed a different kind of relationship with theology that as a grade school student I did not fully understand. Through classes devoted to the sacraments, morality, Scripture, and social justice, over time I sensed a truly personal connection to the subject matter that I did not find in quite the same way in, say, history or foreign language or even math. I learned much in high school theology from excellent teachers, but the most important lessons I learned in these classes were about personal identity, relationships with others, my engagement with the Church and society, and God's unfailing love and forgiveness.

That first fall semester at Notre Dame included my initial introduction to theology at the university, and how quickly I felt at home in that course! I was exploring my Catholic faith in an academic setting with readings from theologians spanning the history of the Church, but at the same time I was engaging rich questions about identity in Christ, identity in the Church, and identity in the world. As the end of the semester drew nearer, I could not imagine going into the spring semester without a theology class. I loved math, but I knew something would be absent from my Notre Dame experience if I did not take advantage of the theology offerings here. I knew something would be absent too from my own spiritual journey if I did not continue in theology. The solution was obvious. I added a second major in theology midway through freshman year.

That decision put my life on such a different trajectory that I never would have imagined while still in high school. Studying theology at Notre Dame broadened my horizons about the Church around the world and the Church throughout the ages. I gained a more profound appreciation of the sacramental life of the Church. I discovered a passion for service and ministry to use the gifts God has given me to give back to those most in need. With each passing semester, I felt a growing call to be the hands, the face, the love of Jesus Christ I studied so much in my course work. Theology came alive for me in the interactions I had with others on campus and the experiences I had of prayer, liturgy, and service.

Following graduation in 2009 with my peculiar degree combination of math and theology, I joined the Alliance for Catholic Education program as a high school teacher in Florida, teaching none other than geometry, morality, and Scripture in my first year. The call to serve was clear. My theology classes at Notre Dame provided the perfect invitation and preparation to share my faith and love of the Body of Christ with a brand new audience of fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds. Learning about my students and fellow teachers, their faith backgrounds, and their own experiences of Church gave increased strength and encouragement to my own spiritual journey.

I spent a total of five years in the classroom, shifting between multiple math and religion courses. I may have never discovered that school and met such incredible families and colleagues without that inner desire I developed as a freshman to declare theology as a major. That decision still resonates today as I now find myself back at Notre Dame as a postulant with the Congregation of Holy Cross, living at Moreau Seminary, and preparing to petition to the Holy Cross Novitiate. That call to know God, love God, and serve God about which I wrote in journals throughout high school theology and read in writings of saints, mystics, and faithful servants of the Church while at Notre Dame is truly alive in my heart in a new and wonderful way after my time as an undergraduate and as an educator. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I hope to continue my study of theology in the future at Our Lady's University.

And my high school calculus teacher told me I should be an actuary. #loveTHEOnotredame

'09, '11

Jessie Kusina (Psychology and Gender Studies)

Notre Dame's identity and practices as a Catholic institution have profoundly shaped who I am as a person and the passions I pursue. While at Notre Dame I studied psychology and gender studies, yet theology shaped the lens through which I approached these two disciplines.

For instance, I pursued psychology because I want to do something meaningful with my career and help others lead healthy and joy-filled lives. This is because I recognize the inherent dignity in every human being, a belief grounded in the teaching that we are all created in God's image. Some people may never be exposed to such teachings if they do not ever have a theology course. Some people will never take a theology course if they are not required to do so.

The mission of Notre Dame is to shape the world's leaders who give themselves in service to society to bring about meaningful change. Theological thought is at the core of this mission, despite our major our career path.

To take away the theology requirement would erode the very foundation upon which Notre Dame builds its mission. This would be a great disservice to the world of which we are all a part, a world we are all called to serve during our time at Notre Dame and especially once we graduate.

Eddie Guilbeau (Mechanical Engineer; Letter to Provost)

I earned my bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Notre Dame in 2011. Since 2012, I have been employed by [an industry leader] in heavy industrial manufacturing management. 

Even as a technical expert in an industrial setting, I still thumb through my notes on theodicy from Fr. Heintz's Foundations of Theology class when I am confronted by ugly truths of the human condition. 

I skim through my notes on Rerum Novarum from my theology and human rights class when I get up in arms about the injustices of our modern economy. 

The topics covered in theology are relevant, no matter one's religious background or professional path. Notre Dame's requirements for a broad liberal arts curriculum produce students who are more well-rounded and more humane in the workplace. This is a competitive advantage in my mind. Notre Dame alumni I have worked with are every bit as technically proficient as alumni of Georgia Tech, MIT, University of Michigan, Penn State, and Texas A&M. Notre Dame alumni are more effective in relating and building trust with their coworkers. I credit Notre Dame's core requirements for that difference. 

I am not aware of many universities that have similar requirements. In truth, there are many great universities and great engineering programs across the country and across the world. Notre Dame's catholic identity and commitment to a broad liberal arts curriculum, including theology, are what make our institution unique among those great universities. I do hope you will continue to support what makes Notre Dame special.