If you’re not religious, you might wonder why studying theology would be relevant to you. After all, isn’t theology just for priests and believers?

It’s a fair question. At first glance, theology might seem like a subject confined to churches, seminaries, and personal faith. But take a step back, and you’ll see something different. Theology isn’t about conversion – it’s about understanding.

Christianity, and specifically Catholic theology, has shaped Western civilisation in profound ways. Its influence is woven into history, literature, art, law, and philosophy. To ignore theology is to miss a key part of how the modern world came to be.

Theology provides a missing piece of the puzzle, one that helps you see the bigger picture.

Theology: What Is It, Really?

Theology is the systematic study of God, religious beliefs, and their impact on human thought and society.

It asks deep, foundational questions:

• What is the nature of good and evil? (Moral theology)
• How do we know what is true? (Epistemology & revelation)
• What is the meaning of life? (Christian anthropology)
• How has Christianity shaped culture, politics, and philosophy? (Church history & systematic theology)

In the famous definition of St Anselm of Canterbury, theology is “faith seeing understanding.” All human persons are truth seekers. We each have an inherent desire to understand ultimate reality – theology is the academic study that seeks to fulfil this desire.

Theology and the Birth of the University

Many students don’t realise that the university itself is a product of Christian intellectual tradition.

In the Middle Ages, the first universities – Paris, Oxford, Bologna – were founded to bring together philosophy, science, and theology in pursuit of deeper knowledge. The idea that all disciplines are interconnected, that the search for truth requires a broad and rigorous education, comes directly from the Christian tradition.

To study theology at Campion is to participate in this tradition of inquiry. It’s about engaging with ideas that have shaped literature, ethics, law, and the way we understand the human person. It’s about seeing knowledge as a unified whole rather than disconnected subjects.

Theology and the Foundations of Western Civilisation

Theology isn’t just a side topic – it’s one of the main pillars of Western intellectual history.

It shaped philosophy.

Christian thinkers like Augustine, Aquinas, and Pascal deepened philosophical concepts in metaphysics, ethics, and logic. Even Enlightenment philosophers like Descartes, Kant, and Nietzsche built their ideas in response to theological traditions.

It shaped literature.

From Dante’s Divine Comedy to Shakespeare’s plays, Christian themes have influenced some of the greatest literary works ever written. Even today, theological ideas of redemption, sacrifice, and justice permeate modern storytelling.

It shaped the arts.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Gothic cathedrals, sacred choral music—all of these masterpieces were born from a theological vision of truth, beauty, and goodness.

It continues to shape modern debates.

Discussions on human dignity, bioethics, and the nature of justice still draw from theological principles, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Takeaway: To study theology is to understand the intellectual and moral foundations of the world we live in.

Why Theology Completes Your Education

At Campion College, we believe that education isn’t about collecting isolated facts – it’s about synthesising knowledge into a coherent worldview.

Understanding theology helps you engage meaningfully with literature, philosophy, and history. It sharpens your critical thinking, connects knowledge across disciplines and encourages us to engaged with the big questions. What does it mean to live well? What is truth? What is justice? These aren’t just religious questions – they’re human questions.

Theology is not just about belief – it’s about understanding the foundations of Western civilisation. Whether or not you are religious, studying it provides insight into the ideas that continue to shape our world today.

Campion College offers a liberal arts education where history, literature, philosophy, and theology come together in pursuit of truth.