Public Theology and Human Dignity

How can we discuss human dignity in public theology while acknowledging the associated challenges? The author agrees with Kim and Day that public theology must transcend the boundaries of different groups, disciplines, and languages in order to establish itself as a credible and accessible voice open to critique based on publicly available criteria and evidence. Next, the theological concept of human dignity as presented in Catholic Social Teaching ( CST ) is discussed alongside reflections on the challenges associated with discussing dignity in public discourse as presented by Kim and Day. Three new approaches to human dignity are then presented: the “moral excellence approach,” the “capability approach,” and the “resilience approach.” These approaches can rise to the challenge of public theology. The article concludes with methodological considerations for empirical religious research into human dignity.