An Enduring Legacy: The Theology of Thomas Aquinas in Dialogue with the Contemporary Age

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to contribute to our upcoming Special Issue of Religions, titled “An Enduring Legacy: The Theology of Thomas Aquinas in Dialogue with the Contemporary Age.”

As we approach 2026, the 800th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Aquinas (circa 1226–1274), the global academic and ecclesiastical communities prepare to celebrate his legacy. The fact that we still speak of Aquinas, engaging with his work with fervor and rigor eight centuries after his birth, is a profound testimony to the enduring relevance of his thought. His monumental synthesis of Christian doctrine, Aristotelian philosophy, and biblical exegesis has established a living tradition of inquiry. Far from being a static repository of historical dogma, this tradition offers a sophisticated and adaptable framework for grappling with perennial questions of meaning, morality, and existence. In an age marked by unprecedented technological advancement, ecological crises, and shifting political landscapes, critical and creative re-engagement with Aquinas’s thought is a vital theological task.

Timed to coincide with this octocentennial celebration, this Special Issue will demonstrate the vitality of Aquinas’s theology by bringing it into a robust and constructive dialogue with the pressing issues of the contemporary age. We seek contributions that are not only historically informed and textually grounded but also speculative, creative, and constructive. Our goal is to demonstrate the living relevance of Aquinas’s comprehensive vision. We welcome studies that apply Thomistic principles to new domains, place Aquinas in conversation with modern and postmodern thinkers, and explore how his understanding of God, creation, and humanity can illuminate our current predicament. While rigorously academic, submissions should be written to engage a broad theological readership, consistent with the journal’s scope of fostering a scholarly understanding of religious thought and practice.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the below topics, which invite engagement with the theology of Thomas Aquinas in the contemporary age:

• Theological Method and Biblical Exegesis: Examining Aquinas’s principles of biblical interpretation—including his use of the literal and spiritual senses—and the contemporary relevance of his scriptural commentaries. How does his approach to Scripture inform modern theological and exegetical debates?
• The Triune God and Metaphysics: Exploring the doctrine of the Trinity, divine simplicity, God’s attributes, and classical theism in dialogue with modern philosophy, analytical theology, and continental thought.
• Creation, Providence, and Science: Placing Aquinas’s doctrine of creation ex nihilo, divine providence, and hylomorphism (soul/body unity) into conversation with modern cosmology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and ecological ethics.
• Theological Anthropology: Investigating the human person as the imago Dei, the relationship between intellect and will, the nature of the passions, and the doctrine of original sin in light of contemporary psychology and the philosophy of mind.
• Christology and Soteriology: Re-examining the theology of the hypostatic union, the saving work of Christ in his life and Paschal Mystery, and the nature of grace and justification in a pluralistic and often secular context.
• Moral Theology and Ethics: Applying Aquinas’s framework of the ultimate end (beatitude), natural law, and the virtues (theological and cardinal) to pressing modern ethical challenges, such as bioethics, artificial intelligence, economic justice, and warfare.
• Sacramental and Liturgical Theology: Analyzing the efficacy and symbolism of the sacraments, particularly the theology of the Eucharist (Real Presence) and its implications for contemporary liturgical practice and Christian life.
• Marriage, Family, and Social Life: Delving into Aquinas’s theology of marriage as both a natural institution and a sacrament and exploring its resources for addressing current questions about family life, sexuality, and the education of children.
• Ecclesiology and Politics: Investigating the nature and mission of the Church, its relationship to the state, and the development of concepts such as the common good and human rights in a globalized world.
• Eschatology (The Last Things): Probing Aquinas’s teachings on the novissima—death, judgment, purgatory, the resurrection of the body, and the nature of heaven and hell—and their spiritual and theological significance for Christians today.

We request that prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors, Piotr Roszak (piotrroszak@umk.pl) and Kenny Ang (k.ang@pusc.it), or to the Religions Editorial Office (religions@mdpi.com; Ms. Moira Li: moira.li@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for ensuring their proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Piotr Roszak
Dr. Kenny Ang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Thomas Aquinas
• Thomism
• systematic theology
• metaphysics
• grace
• natural law
• virtue ethics
• faith and reason
• sacramental theology
• contemporary theology