In Commemoration: Walter ONG and the State of Theology

Abstract

The centenary of Walter Ong's birth offers an occasion to reflect on how his research into culture, language, orality and literacy, and communication practices can contribute to the work of those engaged in theological research and reflection. This article argues that his work helps us understand how shifting information handling (from classical rhetoric to writing to computer systems) influences what counts for knowledge and how each kind of information requires a particular hermeneutical approach.