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    Exhibition of Revealed Truth, The Science of Christian Faith and Life. (Webster's

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    This document discusses different types of theology and theologians. It defines theology as the study or rational discussion of God. It then describes six arenas of doing theology: tabloid theology, folk theology, lay theology, ministerial theology, fundamental theology, and academic/professional theology. For each, it provides examples and discusses their characteristics, such as being uncritical (folk), more reflective (lay), or overly speculative (academic). It emphasizes that every Christian is a theologian and should seek to understand God through both faith and reason.

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    Exhibition of Revealed Truth, The Science of Christian Faith and Life. (Webster's

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    ELMSS
    303 views4 pages
    This document discusses different types of theology and theologians. It defines theology as the study or rational discussion of God. It then describes six arenas of doing theology: tabloid theology, folk theology, lay theology, ministerial theology, fundamental theology, and academic/professional theology. For each, it provides examples and discusses their characteristics, such as being uncritical (folk), more reflective (lay), or overly speculative (academic). It emphasizes that every Christian is a theologian and should seek to understand God through both faith and reason.

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    HANDOUTS FOR THEOLOGY.docx

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    This document discusses different types of theology and theologians. It defines theology as the study or rational discussion of God. It then describes six arenas of doing theology: tabloid theology, folk theology, lay theology, ministerial theology, fundamental theology, and academic/professional theology. For each, it provides examples and discusses their characteristics, such as being uncritical (folk), more reflective (lay), or overly speculative (academic). It emphasizes that every Christian is a theologian and should seek to understand God through both faith and reason.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    303 views4 pages

    Exhibition of Revealed Truth, The Science of Christian Faith and Life. (Webster's

    Uploaded by

    ELMSS
    This document discusses different types of theology and theologians. It defines theology as the study or rational discussion of God. It then describes six arenas of doing theology: tabloid theology, folk theology, lay theology, ministerial theology, fundamental theology, and academic/professional theology. For each, it provides examples and discusses their characteristics, such as being uncritical (folk), more reflective (lay), or overly speculative (academic). It emphasizes that every Christian is a theologian and should seek to understand God through both faith and reason.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 4

    Week 1 HANDOUTS

    THEOLOGY 101 (Revelation of Faith)


    What is Theology?
     Rational discussion respecting the deity. (Augustine)
     The study or science of God. (Millard Erickson)
     Thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in some way. (Charles Ryrie)
     The science of God and of the relations between God and the universe. ( A.H
    Strong)
     The science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence,
    character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are
    to believe, and the duties we are to practice; divinity;(as more commonly
    understood) the knowledge derivable from the Scriptures, the systematic
    exhibition of revealed truth, the science of Christian faith and life. (Webster’s
    Dictionary)
     Theology as a knowledge or understanding is always associated with MAN and
    his quest of UNDERSTANDING GOD. If Theology is the study of God as many
    have defined it then a theologian is one that studies God.
    The QUEST of UNDERSTANDING GOD
    Who is the THEOLOGIAN?
    Anyone who has asked the ultimate questions of life:
    - Why am I here?
    - What is life?
    - What happens after death?
    - What is the difference between right and wrong?
    - Why is there something instead of nothing?

     The question is not, “Who is a Theologian?” but “What kind of Theologian I am


    going to be?” Are you going to be a good theologian or a bad theologian? This
    is a more accurate question, because as one writer put it, “Not all theologies are
    equal.”
     “We live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western
    civilization… We must have passion—indeed hearts on fire for the things of God.
    But that passion must resist with intensity the anti-intellectual spirit of the world.”
    (R. C. Sproul) We must have passion – hearts of fire for the things of God.
     “No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not a
    theologian in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nevertheless. The
    issue for Christian is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are
    going to be good theologians or bad ones. (R.C. Sproul)
     Every Christian has a duty to master all they can about God the Father and His only
    begotten Son Jesus Christ. (John 17:3).
    There are basically six arenas in which we can do THEOLOGY

    The 6 Basic Arenas of Doing THEOLOGY

    1. Tabloid Theology

    2. Folk Theology

    3. Lay Theology

    4. Ministerial Theology

    5. Fundamental Theology

    6. Academic/Proffesional Theology

     TABLOID THEOLOGY
    - One who constructs his or her theology based upon naïve hearsay information that
    has no basis in fact and very little, if any, evidence to be believed.
    - Many times people are Tabloid theologians because of the theology’s appearance of
    originality. As well, it can be “cutting edge” in many people’s minds.
    - "Tabloid Theologians" are those who fill our email boxes with "..read this and be
    blessed...send this to five people you love...a special blessing will come to you...blah,
    blah, blah..." emails.

    EXAMPLES of TABLOID THEOLOGIAN

    1. Hitchhiking angel

    2. Growing fire hose

    3. “I Saw Heaven”

    4. Statues with tears of blood

    5. Apparitions of Mary

     FOLK THEOLOGY
    - One who uncritically and unreflectively constructs his or her theology according to
    traditions and religious folklore. The Folk theologian is often very dogmatic about his
    or her beliefs. 

    EXAMPLES of FOLK THEOLOGIAN

    1. Occults 7. Amulets
    2. Espiritistas 8. Talismans

    3. Ghosts 9. Witch Doctors

    4. Angels’ wings 10. Divination

    5. Good works salvation 11. Ghosts

    6. All people are good at heart  12. Animism

     LAY THEOLOGIAN
    -A layperson who constructs his or her theology and who, unlike the folk and tabloid
    theologian, is . . .
    A. more reflective upon learned theological concepts
    B. likely to formulate a system of beliefs which distinguishes between essential and
    nonessential doctrine
    C. more critical of unfounded traditions
    D. willing to use study tools

     MINISTERIAL THEOLOGIAN
    - A layperson who constructs his or her theology and who, unlike the lay theologian is . .
    .
    A. educated in theological methodology
    B. able to use study tools and resources at a more effective level
    C. able to openly critique personal theology against competing models
    D. intent on devoting more time to reflection so that theological integration can take place 

     FUNDAMENTAL THEOLOGIAN
    - One who constructs his or her theology seriously and fundamentally. They usually. . .
    A. are didactically purposed toward lay and pastoral theologians
    B. conduct practical original research
    C. critically evaluate common theological trends and folk theology.
    -Fundamental theologians are often accused of “quenching the Spirit.” Why do you think
    they receive this accusation? 
    BECAUSE THEY WILL USUALLY ASK THE QUESTIONS:
    • Is that Biblical?
    • Where in the Bible can you find that?
    • Is it Theological?
     ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL THEOLOGIAN
    - A professional theologian who constructs his theology with an overly speculative and
    critical spirit. His dialogue can usually come only with other theologians. It is often called
    “Ivory Tower theology.”
    - A professional theologian is one that usually been formally trained. If you describe
    someone as living in an ivory tower, you mean that they have no knowledge or
    experience of the practical problems of everyday life. An ivory tower is a metaphorical
    place—or an atmosphere—where people are happily cut off from the rest of the world in
    favor of their own pursuits, usually mental and esoteric ones.

    CREDO UT INTELLIGAM
     “I believe in order that I may understand.” (St. Anselm of Canterbury)
     “I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order that I may
    understand… if I did not believe, I would not understand. ( St. Anselm of Canterbury)
     “CREDO UT INTELLIGAM”
    - This is one of the earliest definitions of theology. It starts with the assumption that we
    are believers and, as such, we are seeking to understand our beliefs better.

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