The Rev. Stephen Rowntree, S.J. may lead a fascinating life, but according to him, “You may not be able to tell looking from the outside.”
Rowntree began working at Loyola in 1976, 13 years after taking his vows as a Jesuit in 1963. Now a professor of philosophy, Rowntree says it was his interest in becoming a Jesuit that allows him to do his job today.
“I was interested in becoming a priest and I was also interested in becoming a college professor,” Rowntree said.
“I felt I had a call to serve God as a priest and also that I could do this as a Jesuit. And I have been able to do that as a Jesuit.”
As a philosophy professor, Rowntree stresses the concept of evolution. Instead of accepting the idea of creationism, Rowntree searches for scientific evidence to verify reasons of existence and emphasizes the importance of these facts to his students.
Rowntree fathers a deep-rooted fascination in the origins of our species and, more specifically, our universe.
“Why is there a universe that is this universe with these rules?” Rowntree said. “And is there a ‘who’ that created this whole shooting match?”
His philosophical answer to “Why are we here?” is a combination of God and evolution, as opposed to many other religions that have creationism as a sole purpose of existence ingrained into their minds.
“The Jesuits always try to integrate faith and reason,” Rowntree said.
“There’s still a belief in God as the ultimate creator, but you don’t have to believe in creationism to affirm that.”
Rowntree can be found listening to classic blues songs and playing marathon games of FreeCell when not attempting to wrap his mind around such ideas as, “Who am I?” and “Where did I come from?”
“My wild party days have passed,” Rowntree said.
Ashley Curtis can be reached at
