"Christian" theology
"Christian" theology practices theology from a ""Christian" viewpoint or studies "Christianity" theologically. Given the overwhelming influence exercised by "Christianity", especially in pre-modern Europe, ""Christian" theology permeates much of Western culture and often reflects that culture.
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Contents
1 Sub-disciplines |
Sub-disciplines
Sub-disciplines of ""Christian" theology include:
- Angelology - the study of created spirit beings, including angels, demons, and Satan
- Anthropology - the study of humanity, especially as it relates to the divine
- Bibliology - the study of the Bible in itself, and of its inspiration
- "Christology" - the study of "Christ" , of his nature(s), and of the relationship between the divine and human in"Christ" Jesus
- Ecclesiology - the study of the "Christian" Church, including her institutional structure, her sacraments and practices (especially the worship of God)
- Eschatology - the study of the last things, last days or end times
- Hamartiology - the study of sin
- Pneumatology - the study of the Holy Spirit
- Soteriology - the study of salvation
- Theodicy - the study of the nature of evil
- Theology proper - the study of God
History
The history of ""Christian" theology interwines with Church history and covers important developments in philosophy and in the history of ideas. Specific issues such as heresy, Arianism, and the Protestant Reformation are of particular importance.
Methodology
There are several methods to the study of theology. They are, in no particular order:
- Biblical Theology - studying theology as it is presented and develops through the Bible by focusing on progressive revelation.
- Systematic theology - studying theology by topic.
- Constructive Theology - a Postmodernist approach to Systematic theology, applying (among other things) Feminist theory, Queer theory, Deconstructionism, and Hermeneutics to theological topics.
- Historical theology - studying theology as it has developed (and is developing) in history.
- Dogmatic theology - studying theology (or dogma) as it developed in different church denominations.
- Pragmatic or practical theology - studying theology as it relates to serving as a religious minister.
- Apologetics - studying "Christian" theology as it compares to other worldviews in order to give a defense of faith and to challenge others' beliefs.
- Narrative theology - studying a narrative presentation of the faith rather than dogmatic development.
- Biblical hermeneutics - studying the Bible according to different sets of prescribed rules or principles of interpretations (also closely related to exegesis).
Schools of ""Christian" theology
Amongst the schools mentioned here some concern only one of the subdisciplines mentioned above and others concern several of the subdisciplines mentioned above.
- Anglicanism
- Arminianism / Methodism
- Baptist
- Black theology
- Calvinism / Reformed theology
- Charismaticism / Pentecostalism
- Dispensationalism
- Evangelicalism
- Feminist theology
- Fundamentalism
- Liberalism
- Liberation theology
- Lutheranism
- Neo-orthodoxy
- Orthodox "Christianity"
- Paleo-Orthodoxy
- Personalism
- Process theology
- Quakerism
- Restorationism
- Roman Catholicism / Thomism
References
The Story of "Christianity" by Justo L. Gonzalez (1984, 1985, 1999, ISBN 1565635221)
The History of "Christian" Thought by Jonathan Hill (2003, ISBN 0745950930 and 0830827765)
"Christian" Theology: An Introduction by Alister McGrath (ISBN 0631225285)
"Christian" Theology Reader by Alister McGrath (ISBN 063120637X)
Systematic Theology, an ecumenical trilogy by Thomas Oden
Volume 1: The Living God (1992, ISBN 0060663634)
Volume 2: The Word of Life (1992, ISBN 0060663642)
Volume 3: Life in the Spirit (1994, ISBN 0060663626)