Reliability of core Verbum product

MJ. Smith
MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,397
edited November 20 in Resources Forum

Yes, I know plans change with time but consider this sequence:


[quote]Finally, it should be noted that this index remains something of a work in progress. The index will be periodically updated to include texts newly added to the Verbum library or to correct errors that are discovered.


Andrew Jones et al., eds., Catholic Topical Index (Bellingham, WA: Verbum, 2013).

Note this resource was released in 2013 and last updated in 2014.

Asked 18 September 2022 - the question was asked narrowly although a broad range of ecclesial writings should also be considered:

MJ. Smith said:

Husser, Lydia. Catholic Topical Index: Dataset Documentation. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2017. states:

[quote]

Some examples include Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and Ott’s Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma.

Lydia Husser, Catholic Topical Index: Dataset Documentation (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2017).

It would be useful to know if this has been updated to consider the following:

These are resources that the user likely wants to check if they haven't been integrated into the Catholic Topical Index.

Answer from 12 January 2023

Jessica Parks said:

Circling back to this: yes, they've been considered but no, they haven't been added. Due to a number of constraints it won't be evaluated in the near future. 

My interpretation: the technology used to put together this very useful resource did not scale well OR did not account for ongoing maintenance OR has not fit in well with subsequent development. On the other hand, I consider this resource to be a key value added feature of Verbum as it is the only theme/topic structure that fits well with a Catholic mindset. [I find both the Preaching themes and the Systematic theology topics frustrating misfits - the last straw frustration was trying to find the incarnation of Jesus Christ only to find it hidden under birth of Jesus.]

My conclusion which applies to several other datasets as well. As users, we should insist that datasets constrained by "resources in Logos/Verbum", be updated on a predictable schedule ... certainly more frequently than once a decade.

Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

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Comments

  • Disciple96
    Disciple96 Member Posts: 24

    "...the incarnation of Jesus Christ...hidden under birth of Jesus" Now that is disturbing since the Incarnation began at the very moment of His conception, at the very moment the Blessed Virgin Mary gave her fiat, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed her. This is the pivotal moment for the entire universe. If they can't get that right, then my faith, as it were, in this project is shaken. Well, maybe not shaken. I tend to read most things with a grain of salt nearby. I'm grateful to have a resource like Verbum but I share your frustration with it, too.

  • SineNomine
    SineNomine Member Posts: 7,043

    MJ. Smith said:

    As users, we should insist that datasets constrained by "resources in Logos/Verbum", be updated on a predictable schedule ... certainly more frequently than once a decade.

    In the case of the CTI, if Faithlife wants to be able to generate new revenue directly from it, they could sell an updated/improved version as "Catholic Theological Index (2nd Edition)" or some such thing without much difficulty.

    “The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara

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