2. what is theology all about

8/7/2019 2. What is Theology All About

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Towards adefinition ofTheology:Nature & Subject ofChristian Theology

by Dr Philip Kariatlis

http://www.scribd.com/doc/49909092/What-is-Theolo -All-About



What is theology all about?

Theo-logia

Is it simply just like any

other academicdiscipline, that one would

study within a universitycampus, such as biology,

psephology, geology?

A mere intellectualinquiry?



Theology???

Oxford Dictionary

“the study of the nature of God and

religious belief”Other definitions

“the rational and systematic study of

religion and its influence; a learnedprofession by specialized courses in religion”



EtymologyΘεολογία - Θεός λόγος = study/doctrine of,

discourse about, God

From this we could conclude that theology is simply ameans for gaining some ‘understanding’ about God.

Transformation– Spirituality

Formation – Theology

Information - Religion



Breadth

Not only concernedwith God but also with

the world and

the world’s relationship

with God

Theology is concerned about ‘all things’ for only such a focuswill do justice not only to God whom we believe is the source

of all things, but also human beings whom we believe areinvolved in all things



The Difficulty of the Task atHand

"noonehasseenGodatany

time"(1Jn4:12)

"dwellinginthelightuntowhichnomancan

approach;whomnomanhasseenorcansee"(1Tim

.

6:16). AlsoStGregor

ytheTheologiantaught:

"WhatGodisinHisnatureandes

sencenohuman

personhaseverdiscoveredor

everwilldiscover.”

StBasiltheGreat(330-379AD)

wrote:

“IknowthatGodis;butwhat

hisessenceis,I

considertobebeyondmyunderstandin

g.”

“the divine is beyond understanding and the only thing that can beunderstood about the Godhead is the fact that it is beyond understanding”

St John of Damascus



The Difficulty of the Task atHand

Ode ix. KatavasiaΘεόν ἀνθρώποις ἰδεῖν ἀδύνατον, ὅν οὐ τολµᾷ Ἀ:έλων ἀτενίσαι τά τάγµατα, διά σου δέ Πάναγνε ὡράθη βροτοῖς, Λόγος σεσαρκωµένος, ὅν µεγαλύνοντες, σύν ταῖς οὐρανίαις Στρατιαῖς, σέ µακαρίζοµεν.For human beings to see God it is impossible, for even the angelic armies do not dare to gazeupon God. But through you, o all-pure Maid, the

Logos appeared incarnate unto mortals, andtogether with the hosts of heaven we pronounceyou blest.



Theology as an ‘encounter’

A reflection on the mysteries of God [τά περί Θεοῦ µυστήρια]

Συν – άντησις not simply ‘faith seeking understanding [fidesquaerens intellectum]’

A bringing together of two opposite realities[created reality with the Uncreated God]

Broadness

An experience of the indwelling presenceof God



Theology as an ‘encounter’

“It is one thing tospeak of God; it isquite another to

know God”St Silouan of Mount

Athos



Theology as an encounter

Theology as experience

Created with uncreated

Broadness Highlights theology’s

existential character

Theology aims to bring a persons before

the mystery of God so that they may

experience the indwelling presence

of

God



Theology as encounter “Theology is the expression of the

Church’s experience of communion with

God”

Kierkegaard Heidegger Experience needs to be interpreted within the context of the

Church



Why an emphasis onexperience???

To show that theology is not simply aprocess of logical deductions [human

rationalisations]

Koinonia / Eccleisal



We encounter God in: The Scriptures “the image of the invisible God” (1Col 1:15) “in whom the fullness of divinity dwelt bodily” (Col 2:9)

The Eucharist As they came near the village to which they were going,

he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged

him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almostevening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in tostay with them. When he was at the table with them, hetook bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Thentheir eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and hevanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Werenot our hearts burning within us while he was talking to uson the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem;

and they found the eleven and their companions gatheredtogether. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, andhe has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what hadhappened on the road, and how he had been madeknown to them in the breaking of the bread." (Lk 24.28-35).



Theology is the deeper breath of the entire bodyof the Church, and has prayer as its incentive

power, and the systematic doctrine concerning

the truths of faith as its expression, according to

the variety of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and needs

of the times, to the glory of God and the salvationof the world.

(Archbishop Stylianos)



Ecclesial Character of theology TheologyisbornintheChurchandreturnstoit

ArchimandriteVasileios,HymnofEntry

nottheambitionofaselectfew;ratherauniversalcalling

- allcantheologize-evenanilliterateoldladyprostratingherself

Notaprivateendeavor

Notaprofessionlikeallotherdisciplinesintheuniversitas

litterarum

Writtenwiththeredbloodofthemartyrs

Allgenuinetheologyiscommunalinessence



Ecclesial Character

Implies theology issues from a community;not an individual’s experience

Ecclesial character distinguishes itself fromtheology as studied within a university

Not something recondite to be left to

specialists

Whilst experience is necessary; it must

nevertheless be brought into the communityof faith



The importance of prayer for theology• Theology as relationship with God can only be realized inprayer which is our communion or dialogue with God• Prayer unites us with God • genuine theology presupposes prayer

Evagrius of Pontos"the one who prays is a theologian and the one who is a

theologian prays."

The one who prays is a

theologianBeing a HD student does not

presuppose that you will be

good in theology

the one who is a theologian prays-this statement acts as a measure

of how authentic our theology is-Theology is not a "trade" which

can be divorced from prayer



SystematicArticulation

Whilsttheologyisexistentialitstillneedstobeclearlyarticulated

Useofacademicscholarshipisexpedienteventhoughtitisnotanacademicdisciplineinthestrictsenseoftheword

Calivasarguesthat:”

“theologybecomesseriouslyhandicappedandcoulddeteriorategraduallyintouncritical,repetitiveandsterilepietisticformulations.Ontheotherhand,atheologythatisnotgroundedspirituallycarriesnotconviction.

Theologydoesnotfollowthemethodologiesofthesciences jEpisthvmh =ejpiv +ijsthmi =Istandoverandabovesomething

Theology–moreanexamination,byGod,ofhuman

beings,ratherthananexaminationbyhumanbeingsofGod.



Accordingtotheneeds

- Poverty and oppre

ssion

- Patriarchy and male

domination

- Multiculturalism

- Ecological crisis

- High tech revolutio

n

- Economic rationa

lism



ForthegloryofGodandthe

salvationoftheworld

TheologyshouldultimatelyleadtoavisionofthegloryofGod–qeoptiva, qevwsis

Orthodoxy=correctfaithandcorrectgloryThisinturnbringsaboutourgloryandthanksgiving

toGod

Genuinetheologyunderstoodasglorificationisthereforesalvific

Theimageoftheairplane



Theology:

MysoulthirstingfortheLord…My soul thirsts for the Lord and with tears do I seek Him.How can I not seek You since you sought me out first and you gave me the opportunity

to taste the sweetness of Your spirit.And my soul has loved You until the end.The first years of my life …. my soul has come to know the Lord and this it has learntfrom the Holy Spirit: that the Lord loves us very much.Now I have grown old and I prepare for death and for the sake of the people I write the

truth.O my brethren, I get onto my knees and I beg you; believe in God; believe that He the

Holy Spirit exists. It will witness to God in all our Churches and in my soul. I am a great sinner; however I know the endless love and mercy of the Lord on me.The joyous and gentle glance of the Lord has attracted my soul: that the Love of theLord I do not have the powers to describe it since it is ineffably great and wondrous. I

am not able to forget You; my soul feels nostalgia for you and with tears I seek You. (Excerpt from the diary of St Silouan)

2. what is theology all about

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