What is Theology On Tap?
Theology On Tap was started by Fathers Jack Wall and John Cusick in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1981. The goal was to establish a forum for young adults to explore the Catholic faith as a community in an inviting, relaxed environment.
We gather in informal settings to hear scholars speak on the great questions: the existence of God, the nature of the human person, the foundations of morality, the meaning of grace. Our aim is to make serious Catholic intellectual life accessible and enjoyable to anyone who is curious.
The Houston Chapter of Theology On Tap continues this heritage, bringing together young adults for meaningful discussions about life’s deeper questions through talks on theology, philosophy and ethics. In these forums, the Good for our will, the Truth for our mind and Beauty for our heart are explored as a community.
In keeping with the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, we – as a group – nurture a way of thinking that provides a unity of thought about reality that can be animated by the Catholic Faith and shared with others. It is this unified truth that provides us with a comprehensive worldview and a rulebook for life.
"As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you to live a life worthy of your calling!" — Saint Paul to the Catholics in Ephesus
Events are held in the Houston area, typically at a micro brewery inside Loop 610. All are welcome – believers, skeptics, or even the curious. Come for the talk, stay for the conversation.
Our inaugural event at Quenby Abbey, Houston — October 2022
Faith & Reason
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Faith & reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rise to the contemplation of Truth; and God has placed in the human heart the desire to know the truth. The Church considers philosophy an indispensable help for a deeper understanding of faith & for communicating the truth of the Gospel to those who do not yet know it.
The Encyclical Letter of Pope John Paul II, Fides Et Ratio
Open to All
Informal & Welcoming
We deliberately keep our gatherings informal – counter stools, good company, and excellent conversation. No theological background required. Bring your inquiring mind along with your curiosity & questions.
Community
Building Culture In The Western Tradition
Beyond the walls, Theology On Tap is about building a community of people who take ideas seriously and who carry their faith with compassion, but not compromise. It is for those who seek a habit of being – of being an alter Christus in a desperate world.
Doctor Angelicus
1225 – 1274
The Angelic Doctor
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian born in 1225 in the Kingdom of Sicily. Educated at Monte Cassino, Naples, Paris, and Cologne, he became the preeminent thinker of the medieval period and one of the most influential philosophers in Western history.
His masterwork, the Summa Theologiae, synthesizes Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy, natural law theory, and a profound understanding of the human person. Pope Leo XIII declared him the patron of Catholic schools and universities, and his thought continues to animate philosophy, theology, law, and ethics to this day.
"Veritas est adaequatio intellectus et rei."
"Truth is the conformity of intellect to reality." — De Veritate