h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: What is Theology - A1109170
Author: Egeist - U234106

This is what Theology is.

Hello welcome to Peer Review, unless you've got an alter ego as another researcher, I think this is your first entry.

It's an interesting subject and a good start, however I just felt that it needs a bit more stucture, it does need the odd paragraph I think.

speaking as a theologyt student, i have to agree. that *is* what theology is.

Are you on the Northern Ordination course...theologyt?

Is this theology from a purely Judeo/Christian standpoint? What about other viewpoints, eg Buddhist or Vedic, dualistic and non-dualistic?

It's always struck me that one of the fundamental questions is: 'why is there something rather than nothing?'.

So you think I've just about covered the subject Uncle Heavy?
What about Z's "It's an interesting subject and a good start, however I just felt that it needs a bit more stucture, it does need the odd paragraph I think."
Note he "outranks" us
Anyroadup...I did my BTh by (US) snail-mail distance and (UK)Northern College/Uni (3.5 Grade Av).
How about you?
P.S. I'm NOT a Cleric! Went on to study Beancountancy... cos its soooo interesting and figures do not answer back.
e

Hello Z
Whats up (nearly) Doc?
for the input.

Point taken, but I would aim for the "A216631 Nihilism" type of thing and not "A671717 Creationism and Creation Science - A Perspective" in this "organ". Anyroadup Cocker I'm only a poor Northerner like wot thy is!

I'll go away for a bit n av a thunk
P.S. I'm not a Programmer Geek type... hence plane text.
I "liberated" most the code for my Home Page from its bonds!
I'm toooo lazy to re-invent or do cool stuff like that.
e

>>Theology is a way of finding out the truth about ourselves, our world and God.

This assumes that there is a God. If 'the truth about ourselves, our world and God' turned out to be that there is no God, theology would not be the way to find that out. Or would it? Could theology come to the conclusion that there is no God?

Ooh well it was just my opinions, Though I can't help thinking that a few paragraphs would make it easier to read. You don't have to do Guide ML to be able to do paragraphs... a header or two wouldn't go amiss either!

for the inputZarquon's Singing Fish! (ACE & Scout)

Your Q1)
Is this theology from a purely Judeo/Christian standpoint? What about other viewpoints, eg Buddhist or Vedic, dualistic and non-dualistic?

My A)
"Theology" is "taken as read" to be from a Christian generic standpoint ("Judeo" only as in Old Covenant/Testament as mediated through the New Covenant/Testament) unless accompanied by a qualifier such as "...of Islam","Liberation..." etc. Even if not "true" then it is true here, yes. I studied BTh, and in general people understand that this is Christian Theology. I may add something like this answer for the bewildered

Now as already pointed out:

“…It studies the Biblical texts in their social, historical and literary contexts because of the important place they play in shaping Jewish and Christian thought…”

“It studies the mystical and spiritual traditions because they often reflect intense experiences of God which men and women have…”

”…It is in dialogue with other religious traditions because they bring to light the character of the human search for the divine…”

Your Q2)
It's always struck me that one of the fundamental questions is: 'why is there something rather than nothing?”

My A)
Your question is Philosophical or perhaps Scientific (but Science, as I understand the subject cannot probe before The Big Bang – given (sic) that you hold the Big Bang Theory!).

As stated already:

“Is there a God who is not one of the things in the world but who is responsible for the existence of the world?” This is a question pondered in Theology, a branch of Philosophy.

P.S. read my rant at the statements about Buddhism and Christianity in my Conversations:

A803170 Mysteries of Theology/History

"The similarities between Buddhism & Christianity have given rise to the fact that no-one knows anything whatsoever about the years between Jesus birth and the age of 12..."

1) Christianity promises eternal life in communion with the Godhead. Buddhism promises complete annihilation of the self – the theological opposite; ie, one way of describing Hell!

2) How can the historical (Biblical) fact of the lack of Knowledge of some Jesus’ boyhood arise from the falsehood of "the similarities between Buddhism & Christianity"?

Oh mighty Z
Let me say that your thoughts are fully taken on board and in good spirit Thanks for the new input as well.
I tried to hit a light-hearted reply, but perhapse failed... sorry for that. No insults intended!
e
P.S. If I am ever able to stop answering in these conversations, I may be able to have that thunk?

Theology is A way. Liking the banter
e

Eek am I mighty? I don't think so.. .

theology is the study of christian religion. or rather Theology is.

If Theology is the study of religion, you cannot claim that Theology is a way of finding out the truth about ourselves, only that it is a way of finding out what some people believe to be the truth (although they cannot prove it) while others disagree.

It is Theology that is "making claims" not me. The subject is Theology not Metaphysics. Theology has more "givens" than the latter.
e

To Uncle Heavy. A qualified yes. See the re-draft, coming soon to this "Organ".
e

>>It is Theology that is "making claims" not me.

Fine. So you need to say that Theology claims to be a way of finding out the truth, etc

But Theology is a field of study, so cannot itself make any claims. Therefore you need to say that:

It is claimed that Theology is a way...
Theology is believed to be a way...

or something similar.

yes. take the actual belief out of it.

theology is a study of christianity; what its meant to mean, doctrine, scripture and all that.

I have to say that I agree with the Singing Fish: When I read the title of this entry, I expected (coming at it from a Comparative Religionist viewpoint) that it would be about Theology rather than Christian Theology. You write:

'"Theology" is "taken as read" to be from a Christian generic standpoint ("Judeo" only as in Old Covenant/Testament as mediated through the New Covenant/Testament) unless accompanied by a qualifier such as "...of Islam","Liberation..." etc.'

Well, from where I stand, it is not "taken as read" unless it's written as read: if it doesn't have a qualifier like "Christian" or "Islamic" or "Ugaritic", the entry is going to be generalist. I've never come across anything in my reading that suggested that Christianity had some sort of ownership over the term "Theology".

I would suggest that a single word be added to the title to take care of this issue.