A Theology of Meaning seeks to develop a form of Christian theology that engages deeply and constructively with the post-secular, post-Christian cultural context.

This approach centers on rendering the existential meaning of Christian claims without prematurely settling debates over their underlying metaphysical or historical truth. This suspension of judgment allows space for dialogue with contemporary minds that may question traditional theological assertions.

The project frames this theology epistemologically through an integrated use of evidential reasoning, mythopoesis (the creative shaping of myth), and metaphorical understanding. Evidential reasoning grounds theological claims in plain language and reasoned interpretation of human experience, avoiding overly abstract or speculative formulations. Mythopoesis and metaphorical thinking preserve the richness, symbolic depth, and transformative power of Christian tradition, allowing ancient narratives and doctrines to resonate anew in the present day.

The result is a theology that honors the Christian tradition but translates its core insights into a contemporary mindset. It offers a powerful, practical, and transformative renewal of Christian thinking and living by making the faith’s timeless wisdom accessible and meaningful to today’s culture, promoting a lived Christianity that addresses the crisis of meaning characteristic of modernity.

This approach reflects a broader scholarly commitment to addressing cultural and spiritual dislocation by reimagining religious belief as a vital source of meaning, purpose, and community in a complex world.

A theology of meaning, prioritizing existential purpose through relational encounter and transformative praxis, draws sustenance from Celtic Christian inspiration, which eschewed abstract dogmatics in favor of the practical living out of mercy.

Celtic traditions embodied communal solidarity in monastic kinships and peregrinatio, fostering collective journey over isolated piety.

Sacramental in essence, they perceived divine presence permeating creation's rhythms—streams, stones, and seasons as conduits of grace—rather than confining mystery to ecclesiastical rites.

Mercy animated their ethos, evident in boundless hospitality (fáilte) and penitential practices emphasizing restoration over retribution, unbound by legalistic codes.

Practicality grounded spirituality in daily labor and vernacular wisdom, rendering theology accessible without scholastic abstraction or superfluous metaphysics.

Resistant to hierarchical impositions demanding uniformity, Celtic voices—from Columba's exile to Patrick's vernacular evangelism—championed prophetic autonomy, nurturing a fluid orthodoxy attuned to contextual mercy rather than enforced conformity.

Above all, Christianity for the Celts was the living out of a perceived meaning rooted in dignity and love.

A Theology of Meaning begins by diagnosing the contemporary Meaning Crisis in Western culture, locating its roots in the decline of Christianity, the loss of amythia—living within shared sacred stories—and the absence of a unifying cultural narrative that once provided coherence to life and society. This crisis manifests as widespread existential disorientation, fragmentation, and a loss of purpose.

In response, the theology proposes a core revisioning of Christian belief, not as abstract dogma but through its existential significance—focusing on how Christian claims address the human search for meaning, wholeness, and wisdom. This approach reinterprets traditional doctrines to emphasize their lived and practical impact on human flourishing rather than metaphysical certitude.

Building on these insights, the theology develops a social vision grounded in the relational nature of human existence and the need for community, justice, and participation. It addresses contemporary issues through this lens of existential meaning and ethical responsibility.

Finally, the work draws on Celtic Christianity as a source of renewal, highlighting its integrative spirituality, sacramental sense of the ordinary, deep connection to nature, and communal rhythms as seeds for a way forward—offering a spiritually rich yet culturally accessible pathway for revitalizing Christian faith and practice today.

Gregory is an American philosopher and theologian whose work explores the intersections of religion, culture, and meaning in the modern world.

A former university professor with a long academic career, he now works as an independent scholar, continuing his research and writing on social philosophy, theology, and spiritual culture.​

He earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, where his research focused on social philosophy and political economy, and holds earlier degrees in philosophy and theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and the International Academy of Philosophy.​

Gronbacher’s scholarship examines Christianity in the post-Christian age and the wider Crisis of Meaning in Western culture, drawing on classical philosophy, Christian humanism, and contemporary existential thought. His writings engage how individuals and communities can rediscover value, purpose, and transcendence amid secular modernity.

He is also recognized as a scholar of Celtic culture and religion, connecting Celtic spirituality’s emphasis on creation, community, and sacramentality to broader philosophical and theological renewal.