THEOLOGY

THEOLOGIES OF TODAY

Definition of Theology:Theology definition is - the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially : the study of God and of God's relation to the world.

Theology definition, the field of study and analysis that treats of God and of God's attributes and relations to the universe; study of divine things or religious truth;

What is theology? Here is the basic definition of theology: Theology literally means "the study of God." But theology is so much more than that. When theology is truly studied, it ushers you into a deep relationship with God. Theology is not simply the study of God, but an interaction with God, a conversation with Him and with others about the deep mysteries of divinity. Theology is thinking God's thoughts after Him.

Definition of Philosophy: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.See also natural philosophy.

a particular system of philosophical thought. "Schopenhauer’s philosophy"the study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience. "the philosophy of science" synonyms: thinking · reasoning · thought · wisdom · knowledge a theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior. "don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed, that's my philosophy" synonyms: beliefs · credo · faith · convictions · ideology · ideas · thinking · notions · theories · doctrine · tenets · values · principles · ethics · attitude · line · view · viewpoint · outlook · world view · school of thought ·

the study of the nature of reality and existence, of what it is possible to know, and of right and wrong behavior, or a particular set of beliefs of this type:

the rational, abstract, and methodical consideration of reality as a whole or of fundamental dimensions of human existence and experience. Philosophical inquiry is a central element in the intellectual history of many civilizations.

At its simplest , philosophy (from the Greek or phílosophía, meaning 'the love of wisdom') is the study of knowledge, or "thinking about thinking", although the breadth of what it covers is perhaps best illustrated by a selection of other alternative definitions :

Definition of Worldview: a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world.

"I have broadened my worldview by experiencing a whole new culture"

synonyms: beliefs · credo · faith · convictions · ideology · ideas · thinking · notions · theories · doctrine · tenets · values · principles · ethics · attitude · line · view · viewpoint · outlook · world view · school of thought

The definition of a worldview is an overall way of looking at the world. A person who is cheerful and and optimistic about everything is someone who might be described as having a positive worldview.

Definition of worldview

: a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint

10 Theologies of Today

1. Systematic Theology: a form of theology in which the aim is to arrange religious truths in a self-consistent whole.

Definition of systematic theology

: a branch of theology concerned with summarizing the doctrinal traditions of a religion (such as Christianity) especially with a view to relating the traditions convincingly to the religion's present-day setting

2. Dogmatic Theology: Dogmatic theology is that part of theology which treats of the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and His works Definition of dogmatic. 1 : characterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts a dogmatic critic. 2 : of or relating to dogma (see dogma)Dogmatic theology is that part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and his works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church, Dutch Reformed Church, etc.

3. Mission Theology: Mission theology is foundational to the processes of promoting, integrating, and contextualizing the elements of Christian mission through encounter, proclamation, communion, dialogue, and social transformation. It is a theology characterized by fidelity as well as creativity. Biblical Foundations for Mission Theology.

Mission theology is "that part of missiology that links systematic theology (dogmatics, ethics, ascetics) with practical theology (canon law, catechetics, liturgics, homiletics, pastoral care, service and apologetics). It outlines and interprets mission systematically and practically from the perspective of God's mission, Christ's mission, the mission of the Holy Spirit and the mission of the Church"

4. Biblical Theology: Biblical theology and systematic theology. Donald Hagner defines biblical theology as "that discipline which sets forth the message of the books of the Bible in their historical setting. Biblical theology is an attempt to articulate the theology that the Bible contains as its writers addressed their particular settings. The Scriptures came into being over the course of many centuries, from different authors, social settings, and geographical locations. They are written in three different languages and numerous literary forms (genres). Therefore analytic study leading to synthetic understanding is required to grasp their overarching themes and underlying unities.

5. Old Testament Theology: Old Testament theology is the study of what God has revealed about Himself in the Old Testament. The system of Old Testament theology takes the various truths that the Old Testament books teach us about God and presents them in an organized fashion. Old Testament Theology is the branch of Biblical theology that seeks theological insight within the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible. It explores past and present theological concepts as they pertain to God and God's relationship with creation. While the field started out as a Christian endeavor written mostly by men and aimed to provide an objective knowledge of early revelation, in the twentieth century it became informed by other voices and views, including those of feminist and Jewish scholars, which provided new insights and showed ways that the early work was bound by the perspectives of their authors

6. New Testament Theology: New Testament theology is the study of what God has revealed about Himself in the New Testament. The system of New Testament theology takes the various truths that the New Testament books teach us about God and presents them in an organized fashion. New Testament theology is the exposition of the NT in grammatical, historical and cultural terms. The expression itself could be employed to cover the entire period from Christ’s inauguration of the New Covenant to the consummation of the redemptive program in the future, thereby setting in more adequate perspective the seeming disparity between the thousands of years of OT history and the scarce one hundred years of the life of Jesus and the apostles. This would be in full accord with the consciousness of Jesus, the teaching of the NT epistles and the message of the Johannine apocalypse, all of which not only focus upon our Lord’s redemptive mission, spelling out implications for faith and life in the 1st cent. but are concerned to indicate the nature of a life of faith as it is expressed in succeeding ages and look forward to God’s consummation of that redemption promised of old and inaugurated by Christ. New Testament theology, however, has come to signify something more restricted in scope: the exposition of the circumstances and convictions of Jesus, the apostles and the Early Church during the apostolic days, as set forth in the canonical writings of the NT and as elucidated by means of related bodies of lit. and contemporary data.

7. Liberation Theology: a movement in Christian theology, developed mainly by Latin American Roman Catholics, that emphasizes liberation from social, political, and economic oppression as an anticipation of ultimate salvation. Liberation theology has two basic principles: first, it recognizes a need for liberation from any kind of oppression - political, economic, social, sexual, racial, religious; second, it asserts that the theology must grow out of the basic Christian communities and should not be imposed from above, (Theology) the belief that Christianity involves not only faith in the teachings of the Church but also a commitment to change social and political conditions from within in societies in which it is considered exploitation and oppression exist

8. Black Theology: Black theology, or black liberation theology, refers to a theological perspective which originated among African-American seminarians and scholars, and in some black churches in the United States and later in other parts of the world. It contextualizes Christianity in an attempt to help those of African descent overcome oppression. It especially focuses on the injustices committed against African Americans and black South Africans during American segregation and apartheid, respectively.

Black theology seeks to liberate non-white people from multiple forms of political, social, economic, and religious subjugation and views Christian theology as a theology of liberation: "a rational study of the being of God in the world in light of the existential situation of an oppressed community, relating the forces of liberation to the essence of the Gospel, which is Jesus Christ", writes James H. Cone, one of the original advocates of the perspective.[1] Black theology mixes Christianity with questions of civil rights, particularly raised by the Black Power movement and the Black Consciousness Movement. What is African American theology?African Americans. Black theology, or black liberation theology, refers to a theological perspective which originated among African-American seminarians and scholars, and in some black churches in the United States and later in other parts of the world.

9. Feminist Theology: Feminist theology is a movement found in several religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and New Thought, to reconsider the traditions, practices, scriptures, and theologies of those religions from a feminist perspective. Some of the goals of feminist theology include increasing the role of women among the clergy and religious authorities, reinterpreting male-dominated imagery and language about God, determining women's place in relation to career and motherhood, and studying images of women in the religion's sacred texts and matriarchal religion. Feminist theology examines the meaning and implications of Christian faith from the perspective of a commitment to justice for females. An intellectual development with profound spiritual, psychological, and political implications, it shares with Christian theology in general the classic aim of "faith seeking understanding," but is distinguished by two additional features. The first is the assumption that standard theology has been skewed by longstanding sexism in the tradition. According to this analysis, both social arrangements (patriarchy) and ideological biases (androcentrism) have privileged males and failed to do justice to females; thus an intellectually and morally adequate theology requires significant correction of previous work in all theological disciplines. The second distinguishing feature of feminist theology is a methodological commitment to emphasizing women's experience, in all its complexity and diversity, while conducting the tasks of theological reflection.

10. Sacred Theology: Sacramental theology is the systematic study of the sacraments based on reflection on the liturgical celebration of these rites throughout history and on the insights of theologians and other teachers in light of the magisterium. At given historical periods certain theological points came to be emphasized, sometimes for polemical reasons, and assertions of the magisterium clarified issues of conflict. The following overview is divided into historical periods. In each section attention is given to those aspects of the ritual enactment of the sacraments in that period that required particular theological reflection and to assertions of the magisterium, which assertions are best understood in their historical context. That the contemporary period is treated more fully reflects the disciplinary complexity and richness of sacramental theology today and the significant contributions made to the discipline since Vatican II. For more information on specific rites recourse should be made to articles on particular sacraments and to the historical evolution of the liturgy.

HOW DO WE VIEW OURSELVES AND WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO?

What three theological concepts best define how you look at Scripture?

2. What is your World View, can you define it for others?

3. From these words/concepts please let us know how you see yourself and the ministry God has given you to do? Please choose three.

A. Apostle

B. Bishop

C. Educator (Doctor)

D. Elder

E. Evangelist

F. Executive

G. Leader

H. Pastor

I. Preacher

J. Prophet

K. Teacher