In 1962, the Provincial administration of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great (USA) and the faculty of the College of St. Thomas Aquinas (River Forest, IL) launched Reality, a yearly journal intended to foster contributions to theological and philosophical scholarship by members of the Province, especially those in formation. Articles, primarily authored by Dominican students, often reflected Aristotelian and neo-Thomistic philosophy applied to traditional and contemporary issues.

In 1965, under the editorship of Matthew Fox, Reality was transformed into Listening, a journal inspired by Martin Heidegger’s concept of “Being-with” as developed through listening. Early issues featured notable contributions such as interviews with Hans Küng, writings by Heidegger, and reflections by M.-D. Chenu. The journal expanded its readership far beyond the Dominican community.

Over time, Listening evolved into a “Journal of Communication Ethics, Religion, and Culture” under the editorial leadership of Victor La Motte, O.P., and later, various academic institutions including Lewis University, De Paul University, and Duquesne University. Topics have spanned theology, culture, ethics, and contemporary social issues, with themed issues such as “Human Rights as Social Constructions” and “Catholic Art after Christendom.”

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