A First Things Partner Feature

released 8/22/2025

In this March 2011 essay, Edward T. Oakes, S.J. explains why John Henry Newman’s eloquent defense of the nature of university education, The Idea of a University, continues to inspire, challenge, and even frustrate its sympathizers. Oakes examines some of the inherent discrepancies between Newman’s ideal and the reality of higher education today, most notably related to the place of theology in the university. Newman believed that theology must possess and yield true knowledge if it is to be able to hold a place of legitimacy within the university, yet it must finally yield to magisterial authority. Oakes explains how the struggle to “fit” theology into the university has led many institutions — even Catholic universities — to offer “religious studies” instead. This Oakes refers to as “the learning of the learning of God” (i.e., studying what people have believed about God and religion) rather than the learning of God (i.e., studying theological truth claims themselves).

This essay is provided courtesy of First Things and is read by Ken Myers.

24 minutes

PREVIEW

The audio player for this program is restricted to MHA members and friends of FIRST THINGS. Log in or sign up now to listen to it.

Related reading and listening