ABSTRACT
Over the last century, students of medieval scholastic theology have embraced two different approaches in their research. The first concerns the theoretical conception of theology as a domain of abstract thought. The primary sources have been carefully assimilated into a portrait of how the faculties of theology functioned within the wider university context, both in terms of course regulation and the development of the university as a guild of masters. It is troubling that these two approaches are rarely combined to produce a more holistic image of medieval theology. The modern experience has indeed had a profound impact on the perception of the theology of the medieval schools. It is somewhat ironic, then, that documents like Aeterni Patris have had the reverse effect, namely that the portrayal of medieval theology has reflected more of the contemporary ideals of modern theology - such as systematics and philosophical theology - than modern theology did of its medieval counterpart.
