Theology Table: Group Discusses Religion Over Pizza

Beer and bibles sometimes go together like church and state. St. Jude's Parish Deacon Tom Friel learned that the hard way.

Friel started the Theology Table, which meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. to discuss religion, at Castaways Tavern more than a year ago. He hoped the bar setting would attract a younger crowd.

But soon Friel and the group's members decided a quieter hangout spot would suit them better. So they moved to Frank's Pizzeria, and have been there since, talking God and just about anything that comes up.

Last week, the Theology Table had almost 15 participants. All sorts of people joined the discussion, Friel said. The group was so big Friel had to move them to Frank's dining room.

Hopatcong resident Daniel O'Donnell said the Theology Table never pushes its beliefs on participants.

"We're trying to convert people," said O'Donnell, a devout Roman Catholic.

Instead, Friel said the point is to help people interpret the Bible.

"There is no regular format for people to talk about theology in an open forum," he said.

"We're here to spread the truth rather than the religion I've heard over the years."

"We're here for people of any faith for the purpose of talking about God."

Friel said he got the idea from a program of lectures sponsored by many local Catholic dioceses called 'Theology On Tap," which promotes talking religion in a more relaxed atmosphere, like over a few brews. But sometimes Castaways got a little too loud for a thoughtful discussion.

"[Frank's] became a more accepted location," Friel said. "People can stop by while they're picking up their pizza."

Friel's wife, Kathleen, said the group enjoys helping people figure out their religious issues.

"People have a lot of questions about their own personal life," she said. "They need somebody to listen, to work with them."

Tom Friel said if his wife or O'Donnell, a Scotland native, can't answer a question, they'll turn to a dog-eared copy of The Jerome Biblical Commentary, filled with sticky notes.

Friel added the group tries to keep up with political hot topics to help its members through questions. He said abortion, religious liberty and marital status are some of the more discussed topics.

"We even get into the minutiae about why they do this at church or why they say certain things or why certain things are done in a particular order," Friel said.

Kathleen Friel said the group's main goal, however, is to keep Hopatcong informed.

"We want it to be safe on the streets for the kids," she said. "Hopatcong is such a good town with good people. …We're just here to help people through whatever problems they might have with anything, really."