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

This is the day for the exposition of Scripture.

2 Timothy 4:1,5
Acts 22:1
Luke 4:36
Luke 8:12
Acts 22:22
Luke 12:10
Acts 20:32

†

Sorry TS, I had planned to avoid commenting on this entry but,...

I have to agree that what you have entered here is not so much an entry as a rant. So, if you ‘rant’ in an entry, try not to be too upset when the rejection of friendly, proffered advice turns into stern disapproval. I, too, have asked for specifics from detractors (sorry about the negative connotation of the word), so I feel obligated to spell out my concerns here.

Several folks have pointed out glaring inaccuracies, yet they are still present in your piece. (i.e. the misrepresentation of Theology’s definition, and its sole relationship to the Christian God.) Perhaps your opening paragraph should read more like:

‘Theology means 'study of God'. God is discussed here in reference to the God of Christianity. It is a reasoned reflection on God, the things of God and the relationship of God and Humanity. It is an academic subject, which is intended to be analytical and critical. As an academic subject, it does not require a belief in God. Theology undergraduates studying Christianity come from a wide variety of religious, (and none religious), backgrounds. Irrespective of their backgrounds however, their ideas are certainly tested by the academic nature of the subject.’

The second paragraph simply does not belong as you simply reiterate a bogus definition of Theology.

Under ‘Theology and Metaphysics’, you (yet again) equate Theology with Christianity. If the terms were that interchangeable, the first two words of your title would be redundant. And you again show your inability to be critical as you stated the academic study would be in your opening paragraph.

You seem to want to divorce metaphysics from theology, so why not separate theology from Christianity? In fact, why bring metaphysics up at all?

In the section ‘Naïve, serious questions’, you’re wisdom-from-the-mouths-of-babes concept is taken to a ridiculous, ultimate extreme. As the words ‘naïve’ and ‘serious’ are subjective (at best), and not mutually inclusive or exclusive, they don’t make whatever point you are trying to make. Maybe you like to think that the naïve questions are the serious questions because you are uncomfortable trying to answer what other people think of as the serious questions.

Your statement ‘Theology has always fascinated people because it tries to deal with the fundamental questions about human life, in the following sense. It proposes that the only truly serious questions are ones that even a child can formulate.’; whoever told you this? Did you just make this up? I ask because most people on this thread haven’t a clue how to make sense of the ridiculous claim that this is an established or accepted fact.

BTW: Your three questions (in the context of the entry title, assuming the use of the correct dictionary definitions of the words) are great. They are not child questions, but they are really good questions. They are just not all of the questions worth asking..

In ‘The meaning of the Universe?’, you now equate Theology with knowledge. If the result of the ‘study of god’ were knowledge, there would not be such world-wide disagreement. But, my big problem with the paragraph is the concept of the nature of the universe being dependent on the nature of God. Most theological examinations of Christianity recognize that the natures of God and Universe are entirely different. The nature of the Universe may be dependent on ‘God’, but not on the nature of God.

The first question seems to be two questions. I can well imagine the answers being Y,Y N,N Y,N or N,Y. Breaking them up may help: Does He communicate? Does He enable?
The second question is, quite obviously, no. It may be in our best interest to acknowledge a spiritual dimension, but many people get through life without that acknowledgement, many have lived full and happy lives without even the knowledge that the possibility exists, so it is not precisely ‘need’ so much as ‘should we’.

On a more positive note, I quite liked the entire section: ‘Academic Disciplines Utilised’; and have no problems with anything in ‘Faith Seeking Understanding’.

These parts are stronger and more effective because they work off the given that we are discussing theology of the Christian faith. Trying to force all the aforementioned givens on people, whose critical think skills must reject the sloppy definitions and assertions, just detracts from the more salient points.

Listening and editing will do more for you entry than continued arguing and defensiveness. Good luck with it.

all of those passages are irrelevant to this situation.

spook

Heythrop College, University of London

http://www.heythrop.ac.uk/

Quote:

What is Theology?

Theology is a way of finding out the truth about ourselves, our world and God. It’s always fascinated people because it tries to deal with the fundamental questions about human life. It tries to find ways of answering the elusive questions that the writer Milan Kundera describes in one of his novels: The only truly serious questions are ones that even a child can formulate. Only the most naïve of questions are truly serious.

These ‘naïve, serious questions’ are important because your understanding of what life is about is altered by the answers you reach:
Is there a God who is not one of the things in the world but who is responsible for the existence of the world?
If so, what can we know about God and what can we say about God?
If we have knowledge of God, where does it come from? From ourselves? From others? From God?
Does God communicate with human beings and enable them to love God?
Is there a spiritual dimension to human life which we need to acknowledge?
Are there moments in human history and experience that cast light on the mystery of God?
If you’ve ever found yourself asking questions like these, then you’re already doing theology, even if you don’t think you’ve answered them to your own satisfaction. Studying theology will help you to ask, and answer, these questions better and enable you to make up your mind about these fundamental things.
Just what is Theology?
Theology means ‘talk about God’ and, if you want a simple description of what it is, it’s a reasoned reflection on God and our relationship to God. An early Christian writer, St Augustine, advised people to ‘understand with a view to faith; have faith with a view to understanding,’ and that’s a fair starting point. Theology touches on faith and the possibility of faith; at the same time, it involves understanding – we should not talk nonsense – and it tries to think through the implications of saying that our relationship to God is the core of who we are.

Unquote.

The Northern Ordination Course

http://www.thenoc.org.uk/index.html

Quote:

We are engaged in theological education. But that’s not an abstract subject. It combines all of these features:…
critical attention to our local and global contexts;
thorough study of the Bible and Christian tradition;
experiencing of new situations and ways of mission;
personal and corporate formation in Christian living;
practical training in the tasks of a minister or priest.
Bringing together all of these can involve considerable tension. But we think that’s a healthy and necessary tension if the Christian gospel is to be lived and proclaimed with vigour and imagination in the 21st century.

Unquote.


http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

Quote:

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION
ON DIVINE REVELATION
DEI VERBUM
SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED
BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965,

PREFACE

1. Hearing the word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the sacred synod takes its direction from these words of St. John: "We announce to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship with us and our common fellowship be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:2-3). Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love. (1)

CHAPTER I
REVELATION ITSELF

2. In His goodness and wisdom God chose to reveal Himself and to make known to us the hidden purpose of His will (see Eph. 1:9) by which through Christ, the Word made flesh, man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature (see Eph. 2:18; 2 Peter 1:4). Through this revelation, therefore, the invisible God (see Col. 1;15, 1 Tim. 1:17) out of the abundance of His love speaks to men as friends (see Ex. 33:11; John 15:14-15) and lives among them (see Bar. 3:38), so that He may invite and take them into fellowship with Himself. This plan of revelation is realized by deeds and words having in inner unity: the deeds wrought by God in the history of salvation manifest and confirm the teaching and realities signified by the words, while the words proclaim the deeds and clarify the mystery contained in them. By this revelation then, the deepest truth about God and the salvation of man shines out for our sake in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation. (2)
3. God, who through the Word creates all things (see John 1:3) and keeps them in existence, gives men an enduring witness to Himself in created realities (see Rom. 1:19-20). Planning to make known the way of heavenly salvation, He went further and from the start manifested Himself to our first parents. Then after their fall His promise of redemption aroused in them the hope of being saved (see Gen. 3:15) and from that time on He ceaselessly kept the human race in His care, to give eternal life to those who perseveringly do good in search of salvation (see Rom. 2:6-7). Then, at the time He had appointed He called Abraham in order to make of him a great nation (see Gen. 12:2). Through the patriarchs, and after them through Moses and the prophets, He taught this people to acknowledge Himself the one living and true God, provident father and just judge, and to wait for the Savior promised by Him, and in this manner prepared the way for the Gospel down through the centuries.
4. Then, after speaking in many and varied ways through the prophets, "now at last in these days God has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). For He sent His Son, the eternal Word, who enlightens all men, so that He might dwell among men and tell them of the innermost being of God (see John 1:1-18). Jesus Christ, therefore, the Word made flesh, was sent as "a man to men." (3) He "speaks the words of God" (John 3;34), and completes the work of salvation which His Father gave Him to do (see John 5:36; Divine Revelation 17:4). To see Jesus is to see His Father (John 14:9). For this reason Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through his whole work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself: through His words and deeds, His signs and wonders, but especially through His death and glorious resurrection from the dead and final sending of the Spirit of truth. Moreover He confirmed with divine testimony what revelation proclaimed, that God is with us to free us from the darkness of sin and death, and to raise us up to life eternal.
The Christian dispensation, therefore, as the new and definitive covenant, will never pass away and we now await no further new public revelation before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Tim. 6:14 and Tit. 2:13).
5. "The obedience of faith" (Rom. 13:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) "is to be given to God who reveals, an obedience by which man commits his whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals," (4) and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of the mind and giving "joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and believing it." (5) To bring about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the same Holy Spirit constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts.
6. Through divine revelation, God chose to show forth and communicate Himself and the eternal decisions of His will regarding the salvation of men. That is to say, He chose to share with them those divine treasures which totally transcend the understanding of the human mind. (6)
As a sacred synod has affirmed, God, the beginning and end of all things, can be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason (see Rom. 1:20); but teaches that it is through His revelation that those religious truths which are by their nature accessible to human reason can be known by all men with ease, with solid certitude and with no trace of error, even in this present state of the human race. (7)

CHAPTER II
HANDING ON DIVINE REVELATION

7. In His gracious goodness, God has seen to it that what He had revealed for the salvation of all nations would abide perpetually in its full integrity and be handed on to all generations. Therefore Christ the Lord in whom the full revelation of the supreme God is brought to completion (see Cor. 1:20; 3:13; 4:6), commissioned the Apostles to preach to all men that Gospel which is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching, (1) and to impart to them heavenly gifts. This Gospel had been promised in former times through the prophets, and Christ Himself had fulfilled it and promulgated it with His lips. This commission was faithfully fulfilled by the Apostles who, by their oral preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from the lips of Christ, from living with Him, and from what He did, or what they had learned through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The commission was fulfilled, too, by those Apostles and apostolic men who under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit committed the message of salvation to writing. (2)
But in order to keep the Gospel forever whole and alive within the Church, the Apostles left bishops as their successors, "handing over" to them "the authority to teach in their own place."(3) This sacred tradition, therefore, and Sacred Scripture of both the Old and New Testaments are like a mirror in which the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God, from whom she has received everything, until she is brought finally to see Him as He is, face to face (see 1 John 3:2).
8. And so the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved by an unending succession of preachers until the end of time. Therefore the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15), and to fight in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see Jude 1:3) (4) Now what was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.
This tradition which comes from the Apostles develop in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. (5) For there is a growth in the understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down. This happens through the contemplation and study made by believers, who treasure these things in their hearts (see Luke, 2:19, 51) through a penetrating understanding of the spiritual realities which they experience, and through the preaching of those who have received through episcopal succession the sure gift of truth. For as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth until the words of God reach their complete fulfillment in her.
The words of the holy fathers witness to the presence of this living tradition, whose wealth is poured into the practice and life of the believing and praying Church. Through the same tradition the Church's full canon of the sacred books is known, and the sacred writings themselves are more profoundly understood and unceasingly made active in her; and thus God, who spoke of old, uninterruptedly converses with the bride of His beloved Son; and the Holy Spirit, through whom the living voice of the Gospel resounds in the Church, and through her, in the world, leads unto all truth those who believe and makes the word of Christ dwell abundantly in them (see Col. 3:16).
9. Hence there exists a close connection and communication between sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end. For Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, while sacred tradition takes the word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and hands it on to their successors in its full purity, so that led by the light of the Spirit of truth, they may in proclaiming it preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known. Consequently it is not from Sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything which has been revealed. Therefore both sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence.(6)
10. Sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of God, committed to the Church. Holding fast to this deposit the entire holy people united with their shepherds remain always steadfast in the teaching of the Apostles, in the common life, in the breaking of the bread and in prayers (see Acts 2, 42, Greek text), so that holding to, practicing and professing the heritage of the faith, it becomes on the part of the bishops and faithful a single common effort. (7)
But the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, (8) has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church, (9) whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it presents for belief as divinely revealed.
It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.

CHAPTER III
SACRED SCRIPTURE, ITS INSPIRATION AND DIVINE INTERPRETATION

11. Those divinely revealed realities which are contained and presented in Sacred Scripture have been committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. For holy mother Church, relying on the belief of the Apostles (see John 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-20, 3:15-16), holds that the books of both the Old and New Testaments in their entirety, with all their parts, are sacred and canonical because written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author and have been handed on as such to the Church herself.(1) In composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by Him (2) they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, (3) they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted. (4)
Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings (5) for the sake of salvation. Therefore "all Scripture is divinely inspired and has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind" (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Greek text).
12. However, since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, (6) the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words.
To search out the intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given, among other things, to "literary forms." For truth is set forth and expressed differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or of other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture. (7) For the correct understanding of what the sacred author wanted to assert, due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of feeling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that period in their everyday dealings with one another. (8)
But, since Holy Scripture must be read and interpreted in the sacred spirit in which it was written, (9) no less serious attention must be given to the content and unity of the whole of Scripture if the meaning of the sacred texts is to be correctly worked out. The living tradition of the whole Church must be taken into account along with the harmony which exists between elements of the faith. It is the task of exegetes to work according to these rules toward a better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture, so that through preparatory study the judgment of the Church may mature. For all of what has been said about the way of interpreting Scripture is subject finally to the judgment of the Church, which carries out the divine commission and ministry of guarding and interpreting the word of God. (10)
13. In Sacred Scripture, therefore, while the truth and holiness of God always remains intact, the marvelous "condescension" of eternal wisdom is clearly shown, "that we may learn the gentle kindness of God, which words cannot express, and how far He has gone in adapting His language with thoughtful concern for our weak human nature." (11) For the words of God, expressed in human language, have been made like human discourse, just as the word of the eternal Father, when He took to Himself the flesh of human weakness, was in every way made like men.

CHAPTER IV
THE OLD TESTAMENT

14. In carefully planning and preparing the salvation of the whole human race the God of infinite love, by a special dispensation, chose for Himself a people to whom He would entrust His promises. First He entered into a covenant with Abraham (see Gen. 15:18) and, through Moses, with the people of Israel (see Ex. 24:8). To this people which He had acquired for Himself, He so manifested Himself through words and deeds as the one true and living God that Israel came to know by experience the ways of God with men. Then too, when God Himself spoke to them through the mouth of the prophets, Israel daily gained a deeper and clearer understanding of His ways and made them more widely known among the nations (see Ps. 21:29; 95:1-3; Is. 2:1-5; Jer. 3:17). The plan of salvation foretold by the sacred authors, recounted and explained by them, is found as the true word of God in the books of the Old Testament: these books, therefore, written under divine inspiration, remain permanently valuable. "For all that was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom. 15:4).
15. The principal purpose to which the plan of the old covenant was directed was to prepare for the coming of Christ, the redeemer of all and of the messianic kingdom, to announce this coming by prophecy (see Luke 24:44; John 5:39; 1 Peter 1:10), and to indicate its meaning through various types (see 1 Cor. 10:12). Now the books of the Old Testament, in accordance with the state of mankind before the time of salvation established by Christ, reveal to all men the knowledge of God and of man and the ways in which God, just and merciful, deals with men. These books, though they also contain some things which are incomplete and temporary, nevertheless show us true divine pedagogy. (1) These same books, then, give expression to a lively sense of God, contain a store of sublime teachings about God, sound wisdom about human life, and a wonderful treasury of prayers, and in them the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way. Christians should receive them with reverence.
16. God, the inspirer and author of both Testaments, wisely arranged that the New Testament be hidden in the Old and the Old be made manifest in the New. (2) For, though Christ established the new covenant in His blood (see Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25), still the books of the Old Testament with all their parts, caught up into the proclamation of the Gospel, (3) acquire and show forth their full meaning in the New Testament (see Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27; Rom. 16:25-26; 2 Cor. 14:16) and in turn shed light on it and explain it.

CHAPTER V
THE NEW TESTAMENT

17. The word God, which is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe (see Rom. 1:16), is set forth and shows its power in a most excellent way in the writings of the New Testament. For when the fullness of time arrived (see Gal. 4:4), the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us in His fullness of graces and truth (see John 1:14). Christ established the kingdom of God on earth, manifested His Father and Himself by deeds and words, and completed His work by His death, resurrection and glorious Ascension and by the sending of the Holy Spirit. Having been lifted up from the earth, He draws all men to Himself (see John 12:32, Greek text), He who alone has the words of eternal life (see John 6:68). This mystery had not been manifested to other generations as it was now revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets in the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 3:4-6, Greek text), so that they might preach the Gospel, stir up faith in Jesus, Christ and Lord, and gather together the Church. Now the writings of the New Testament stand as a perpetual and divine witness to these realities.
18. It is common knowledge that among all the Scriptures, even those of the New Testament, the Gospels have a special preeminence, and rightly so, for they are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our savior.
The Church has always and everywhere held and continues to hold that the four Gospels are of apostolic origin. For what the Apostles preached in fulfillment of the commission of Christ, afterwards they themselves and apostolic men, under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, handed on to us in writing: the foundation of faith, namely, the fourfold Gospel, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.(1)
19. Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven (see Acts 1:1). Indeed, after the Ascension of the Lord the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and done. This they did with that clearer understanding which they enjoyed (3) after they had been instructed by the glorious events of Christ's life and taught by the light of the Spirit of truth. (2) The sacred authors wrote the four Gospels, selecting some things from the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in writing, reducing some of them to a synthesis, explaining some things in view of the situation of their churches and preserving the form of proclamation but always in such fashion that they told us the honest truth about Jesus.(4) For their intention in writing was that either from their own memory and recollections, or from the witness of those who "themselves from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word" we might know "the truth" concerning those matters about which we have been instructed (see Luke 1:2-4).
20. Besides the four Gospels, the canon of the New Testament also contains the epistles of St. Paul and other apostolic writings, composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by which, according to the wise plan of God, those matters which concern Christ the Lord are confirmed, His true teaching is more and more fully stated, the saving power of the divine work of Christ is preached, the story is told of the beginnings of the Church and its marvelous growth, and its glorious fulfillment is foretold.
For the Lord Jesus was with His apostles as He had promised (see Matt. 28:20) and sent them the advocate Spirit who would lead them into the fullness of truth (see John 16:13).

CHAPTER VI
SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13).
22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful. That is why the Church from the very beginning accepted as her own that very ancient Greek translation; of the Old Testament which is called the septuagint; and she has always given a place of honor to other Eastern translations and Latin ones especially the Latin translation known as the vulgate. But since the word of God should be accessible at all times, the Church by her authority and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct translations are made into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise and the Church authorities approve, if these translations are produced in cooperation with the separated brethren as well, all Christians will be able to use them.
23. The bride of the incarnate Word, the Church taught by the Holy Spirit, is concerned to move ahead toward a deeper understanding of the Sacred Scriptures so that she may increasingly feed her sons with the divine words. Therefore, she also encourages the study of the holy Fathers of both East and West and of sacred liturgies. Catholic exegetes then and other students of sacred theology, working diligently together and using appropriate means, should devote their energies, under the watchful care of the sacred teaching office of the Church, to an exploration and exposition of the divine writings. This should be so done that as many ministers of the divine word as possible will be able effectively to provide the nourishment of the Scriptures for the people of God, to enlighten their minds, strengthen their wills, and set men's hearts on fire with the love of God. (1) The sacred synod encourages the sons of the Church and Biblical scholars to continue energetically, following the mind of the Church, with the work they have so well begun, with a constant renewal of vigor. (2)
24. Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together with sacred tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation. By scrutinizing in the light of faith all truth stored up in the mystery of Christ, theology is most powerfully strengthened and constantly rejuvenated by that word. For the Sacred Scriptures contain the word of God and since they are inspired really are the word of God; and so the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology. (3) By the same word of Scripture the ministry of the word also, that is, pastoral preaching, catechetics and all Christian instruction, in which the liturgical homily must hold the foremost place, is nourished in a healthy way and flourishes in a holy way.
25. Therefore, all the clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through diligent sacred reading and careful study, especially the priests of Christ and others, such as deacons and catechists who are legitimately active in the ministry of the word. This is to be done so that none of them will become "an empty preacher of the word of God outwardly, who is not a listener to it inwardly" (4) since they must share the abundant wealth of the divine word with the faithful committed to them, especially in the sacred liturgy. The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."(5) Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying." (6)
It devolves on sacred bishops "who have the apostolic teaching"(7) to give the faithful entrusted to them suitable instruction in the right use of the divine books, especially the New Testament and above all the Gospels. This can be done through translations of the sacred texts, which are to be provided with the necessary and really adequate explanations so that the children of the Church may safely and profitably become conversant with the Sacred Scriptures and be penetrated with their spirit.
Furthermore, editions of the Sacred Scriptures, provided with suitable footnotes, should be prepared also for the use of non-Christians and adapted to their situation. Both pastors of souls and Christians generally should see to the wise distribution of these in one way or another.
26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books "the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified" (2 Thess. 3:1) and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men. Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which "lasts forever" (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:23-25).

NOTES
Preface
Article 1:
1. cf. St. Augustine, "De Catechizandis Rudibus," C.IV 8: PL. 40, 316.
Chapter I
Article 2:
2. cf. Matt. 11:27; John 1:14 and 17; 14:6; 17:1-3; 2 Cor 3:16 and 4, 6; Eph. 1, 3-14.
Article 4:
3. Epistle to Diognetus, c. VII, 4: Funk, Apostolic Fathers, I, p. 403.
Article 5:
4. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 3, "On Faith:" Denzinger 1789 (3008).
5. Second Council of Orange, Canon 7: Denzinger 180 (377); First Vatican Council, loc. cit.: Denzinger 1791 (3010).
Article 6:
6. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 2, "On Revelation:" Denzinger 1786 (3005).
7. Ibid: Denzinger 1785 and 1786 (3004 and 3005).
Chapter II
Article 7:
1. cf. Matt. 28:19-20, and Mark 16:15; Council of Trent, session IV, Decree on Scriptural Canons: Denzinger 783 (1501).
2. cf. Council of Trent, loc. cit.; First Vatican Council, session III, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 2, "On revelation:" Denzinger 1787 (3005).
3. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" III, 3, 1: PG 7, 848; Harvey, 2, p. 9.
Article 8:
4. cf. Second Council of Nicea: Denzinger 303 (602); Fourth Council of Constance, session X, Canon 1: Denzinger 336 (650-652).
5. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 4, "On Faith and Reason:" Denzinger 1800 (3020).
Article 9:
6. cf. Council of Trent, session IV, loc. cit.: Denzinger 783 (1501).
Article 10:
7. cf. Pius XII, apostolic constitution, "Munificentissimus Deus," Nov. 1, 1950: A.A.S. 42 (1950) p. 756; Collected Writings of St. Cyprian, Letter 66, 8: Hartel, III, B, p. 733: "The Church [is] people united with the priest and the pastor together with his flock."
8. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 3 "On Faith:" Denzinger 1792 (3011).
9. cf. Pius XII, encyclical "Humani Generis," Aug. 12, 1950: A.A.S. 42 (1950) pp. 568-69: Denzinger 2314 (3886).
Chapter III
Article 11:
1. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 2 "On Revelation:" Denzinger 1787 (3006); Biblical Commission, Decree of June 18,1915: Denzinger 2180 (3629): EB 420; Holy Office, Epistle of Dec. 22, 1923: EB 499.
2. cf. Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu," Sept. 30, 1943: A.A.S. 35 (1943) p. 314; Enchiridion Bible. (EB) 556.
3. "In" and "for" man: cf. Heb. 1, and 4, 7; ("in"): 2 Sm. 23,2; Matt.1:22 and various places; ("for"): First Vatican Council, Schema on Catholic Doctrine, note 9: Coll. Lac. VII, 522.
4. Leo XIII, encyclical "Providentissimus Deus," Nov. 18, 1893: Denzinger 1952 (3293); EB 125.
5. cf. St. Augustine, "Gen. ad Litt." 2, 9, 20:PL 34, 270-271; Epistle 82, 3: PL 33, 277: CSEL 34, 2, p. 354. St. Thomas, "On Truth," Q. 12, A. 2, C.Council of Trent, session IV, Scriptural Canons: Denzinger 783 (1501). Leo XIII, encyclical "Providentissimus Deus:" EB 121, 124, 126-127. Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu:" EB 539.
Article 12:
6. St. Augustine, "City of God," XVII, 6, 2: PL 41, 537: CSEL. XL, 2, 228.
7. St. Augustine, "On Christian Doctrine" III, 18, 26; PL 34, 75-76.
8. Pius XII, loc. cit. Denziger 2294 (3829-3830); EB 557-562.
9. cf. Benedict XV, encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus" Sept. 15, 1920:EB 469. St. Jerome, "In Galatians' 5, 19-20: PL 26, 417 A.
10. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chapter 2, "On Revelation:" Denziger 1788 (3007).
Article 13:
11. St. John Chrysostom "In Genesis" 3, 8 (Homily l7, 1): PG 53, 134; "Attemperatio" [in English "Suitable adjustment"] in Greek "synkatabasis."
Chapter IV
Article 15:
1. Pius XI, encyclical 'Mit Brennender Sorge," March 14, 1937: A.A.S. 29 (1937) p. 51.
Article 16:
2. St. Augustine, "Quest. in Hept." 2,73: PL 34,623.
3. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" III, 21,3: PG 7,950; (Same as 25,1: Harvey 2, p. 115). St. Cyril of Jerusalem, "Catech." 4,35; PG 33,497. Theodore of Mopsuestia, "In Soph." 1,4-6: PG 66, 452D-453A.
Chapter V
Article 18:
1. cf. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" III, 11; 8: PG 7,885, Sagnard Edition, p. 194.
Article 19:
(Due to the necessities of translation, footnote 2 follows footnote 3 in text of Article 19.)
2. cf. John 14:26; 16:13.
3. John 2:22; 12:16; cf. 14:26; 16:12-13; 7:39.
4. cf. instruction "Holy Mother Church" edited by Pontifical Consilium for Promotion of Bible Studies; A.A.S. 56 (1964) p. 715.
Chapter VI
Article 23:
1. cf. Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu:" EB 551, 553, 567. Pontifical Biblical Commission, Instruction on Proper Teaching of Sacred Scripture in Seminaries and Religious Colleges, May 13, 1950: A.A.S. 42 (1950) pp. 495-505.
2. cf. Pius XII, ibid: EB 569.
Article 24:
3. cf. Leo XIII, encyclical "Providentissmus Deus:" EB 114; Benedict XV, encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus:" EB 483.
Article 25:
4. St. Augustine Sermons, 179,1: PL 38,966.
5. St. Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah, Prol.: PL 24,17. cf. Benedict XV, encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus:" EB 475-480; Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu:" EB 544.
6. St. Ambrose, On the Duties of Ministers I, 20,88: PL l6,50.
7. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" IV, 32,1: PG 7, 1071; (Same as 49,2) Harvey, 2, p. 255.

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http://www.reseminary.edu/

Quote:

Systematic and Dogmatic Theology

ST 501 The Doctrine of God (Theology Proper). Theological prolegomena, the doctrine of revelation (general and special), arguments for the existence of God, the nature and attributes of God, the decrees of God, the providence of God, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

ST 502 The Doctrine of Man and of Sin. The origin and antiquity of man; the image of God in man; the pre- and post-lapsarian condition of man; the covenant of works; original sin; the imputation of sin; the total depravity of man; a comparison of the Pelagian, Arminian, Calvinistic, and perfectionistic systems.

ST 508 The Last Four Things (General Eschatology). A specialized study of death, judgment, hell, and heaven. The immortality of the soul (conditional and unconditional); the situation of the soul after death; the resurrection of the body, its glory and identity; the second advent of Christ; the doctrine of eternal punishment; conditional immortality and annihilationism; soul-sleep; probationism; purgatory; the glory and rewards of Heaven.

ST 601 Christology and Soteriology (Christ and Salvation). The person and work of Christ, the hypostatic union, the deity and humanity of Christ, impeccability, theories of the atonement, the Holy Spirit in applying the work of Christ, the covenants of redemption and grace, justification, effectual calling, regeneration, faith, conversion, sanctification, perseverance.

ST 602 The Doctrine of the Church and Its Sacraments. The nature and calling of the church; the invisible and visible church; the holy catholic church; the sacraments of the church: covenant baptism and the Lord's Supper; trans- and consubstantiation; the communicatio idiomatum; memorialism; sacramental views of Calvin and Cranmer; pedo-communion; church discipline and polity.

ST 702 Classical Apologetics. Defense of the Christian faith as practiced by advocates of Thomism, natural theology, and reason. Contrast with rationalism, irrationalism, existentialism, empiricism, and logical positivism. Time will be spent relating faith and reason to produce a balanced, rational apology for the Christian hope. Arguments of Reformed epistemology as taught by Hoitenga, Plantinga, and James Kelly Clark will be discussed.

ST 703 The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. This course gives the student an intensive overview of one of the primary theological platforms of the Protestant Reformation. It permits a review of the theology courses previously taken through the lens of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, considered historically and dogmatically. As the formal confessional document of the Church of England and the Reformed Episcopal Church, the Articles are of special importance to those preparing for ministry in the Reformed Episcopal Church; but the study of them will provide valuable theological reflection for students of all Protestant confessional churches.

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†

Sorry, Inadequate.

All the quotations and citings of opinion in the world won't change the current and accepted definition of theology, or make the Christian God the only choice on the planet.

Try to stick to the subject, which is your highly subjective and opinionated entry. One of the most agregious aspects of it is your total dismissal of all other relgions and their believers right to believe in them.

Who are you calling inadequate?

I've been asked to cite as many quotes as I can, only to be told that all the quotations and citing in the world will not change 'the current and accepted definition of Theology'. [Capital T, thanks]

From the quotes your position is untenable in the eyes of Roman Catholics, or Evangelical Protestants - or others studying Theology in the US or UK (a restriction being that I am using English speaking sources). Your position is also opposite that of the Sub Editor whose material was incorporated into the article. I would assume that an Atheist, or atheist, would not defend one Theism over another, but I may be 'in error' on that point.

You are falling over each others material, and putting you unsubstantiated opinions above any rational conduct of PR.

Why don't YOU all try to stick to the subject? PR of this article is in a deadlock of your making, not mine.

The title was changed a ratified by Sub Editorial injunction. I have already conceded the point, although it is technically incorrect. A correction is made in the text, anyway.

I don't give a hoot about so called comparative religion myself(since Christianity is beyond compare!), but since modern conduct of the subject includes other 'religions' in some places - I must include it for completeness. Even in those places, your definition of Theology is not accepted. You have offered no material evidence from other religions, which you seek to 'defend'.

I have demonstrated my position - which Science and Religion are not in conflict, since they ask and answer different questions. I could cite quotes, but as you - as a group - both ask for, but disregard such activity, I need not bother.

Towel Surfer - providing quotes means nothing. you must provide relevant quotes and explain their points. most of your quotes are irrelevant.

also, PR is not in deadlock. the majority of people consider the article to contain flaws and errors that must be corrected before it is ready for the EG. PR is, as far as i can tell from the comments i have seen, in agreement that the entry is not ready, not in deadlock.

spook

A few notes on places the grammar looks wrong: "Theology undergraduates come from a wide variety of religious, (and none religious), backgrounds" looks as though you mean "religious and non-religious".

"Students read and analyze large quantities of material at high speed, to communicate their ideas accurately and concisely in writing, and to defend them vigorously in discussion" looks as though you mean "Students are required to read (etc)".

"Other religions have theologies, but Theology simply means the study of Christianity" looks like a proud claim to exclusive use of a capital T. "Christian Theology, that is to say Theology" seems to reiterate this claim. Is this meant to be informative or provocative?

The author is evidently aware of the possibility of the entry attracting flames in discussion, but it is unclear whether flames are being deliberately sought or not.

If not, there are more small adjustments that might defuse the potential flamer, e.g.

"Theology . . . proposes that . . ." could be rephrased "Theologians have proposed that . . .".

A balance was apparently struck between the rights of believers and the rights of non-believers, and then upset. To personify a subject and then report its "speech" is, well, asking for it. One cannot say what Theology proposes, because Theology does not presumably speak with a single voice.

As various people have been arguing about the definition of theology, here is the following (again via BBCi search).

theology

The study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions.
A system or school of opinions concerning God and religious questions: Protestant theology; Jewish theology.
A course of specialized religious study usually at a college or seminary.

theology
\The*ol"o*gy\, n.; pl. Theologies . [L. theologia, Gr. ?; ? God + ? discourse: cf. F. th['e]ologie. See Theism, and Logic.] 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."

Many speak of theology as a science of religion [instead of "science of God"] because they disbelieve that there is any knowledge of God to be attained. --Prof. R. Flint (Enc. Brit.).

Theology is ordered knowledge; representing in the region of the intellect what religion represents in the heart and life of man. --Gladstone.

Ascetic theology, Natural theology. See Ascetic, Natural.

Moral theology, that phase of theology which is concerned with moral character and conduct.

Revealed theology, theology which is to be learned only from revelation.

Scholastic theology, theology as taught by the scholastics, or as prosecuted after their principles and methods.

Speculative theology, theology as founded upon, or influenced by, speculation or metaphysical philosophy.

Systematic theology, that branch of theology of which the aim is to reduce all revealed truth to a series of statements that together shall constitute an organized whole. --E. G. Robinson (Johnson's Cyc.).
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

theology
n 1: the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth [syn: divinity] 2: a particular system or school of religious beliefs and teachings; "Jewish theology"; "Roman Catholic theology" [syn: theological system ] 3: the learned profession acquired by specialized courses in religion (usually taught at a college or seminary); "he studied theology at Oxford"
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University

Now let's all have a and calm down!

Replying to post 43, Rains's list of definitions of 'metaphysics'.

Physics is the study of natural things; 'metaphysics' was first coined by Aristotle's son Nicomachaeus to give a title to those writings of Aristotle that could not quite be described as physics, and yet didn't fit into ethics, politics or the other categories of his writings. So it's a dodgy term from the word go, and no dictionary has an exclusive claim of correctness in defining it.

Beats me how people put blind faith in dictionaries. As though they agreed.

Here's another definition: 'news from nowhere'.

The best modern stab at metaphysics (in my humblest of opinions) was made by Ludwig Wittgenstein (see A1024156) who said (more or less) that all of value does indeed reside, originate or belong *outside the world* (=universe), but it is hard if not impossible to discuss it without descending into nonsense.

What are we to do then, if the things we most want to discuss are barred?

We can take W's remarks as a health warning: tread carefully. Just as Mayer Hillman advises us that we should wear cycle helmets, but at the same time try and persuade ourselves that they can't do us much good.

A small and lightweight reference to "the location of value" is given in A954759 "Rainbows End - Fact and Fiction".

TS, brother,

I certainly did not mean to imply that you were inadequate. I was sticking to the point by referring to the multitude of citations you have provided. As you will not use a dictionary in defining Theology (and I don’t really care about the ‘T’), perhaps you will use one to look up ‘Theo-centric’.

Yes, you were probably asked by someone to cite quotes. I’m hoping that what you provided will do them, and you, some good; but despite your protest of how ‘Christianity is beyond compare’, you have taken a decidedly non-Christian attitude toward your subject and those who are attempting to help you improve the entry. (You are, of course, under no obligation to change a letter of it. You do, however, seem to want to see it in the guide, and so we respond.)

My opinions may well be untenable to dogmatic religious doctrines, but they to are Theo centric and don’t belong in a guide that has a right to entries that don’t fall to the level of Theocratic opinion represented as fact. The fact that I believe in Jesus Christ, does not mean that I can impose my belief on others here. I certainly can’t state that any of the miracles that I believe in are established facts. And, now that you brought up the Roman Catholics, Catholic means ‘Open to All’, whereas your definition of Theology is not.

Just curious about why you would want to assume that any atheist’s opinion on Theology would be any more valid than any non-atheists? I do thank you for suggesting that his could, perhaps, be an error. They certainly do not have a lock on objectivity.

I suppose that some things I have offered, in trying to help the article (again in my opinion, only) become acceptable as a guide entry, could be considered opinion, and perhaps even unsubstantiated opinion. Granting that this might be so, why then have You not dropped the wholly unsubstantiated opinion about Theology pertaining ONLY to Christianity?

There is no religion that would ever benefit from my defense, so I do not defend. If I complain about the definition, it is only the English language that I defend. If we cannot agree on the simple, basic definitions of words, we are merely articulating meaningless sounds and writing gibberish. For, if I see blue and call it red, I am not communicating what I see.

I am very happy to find and area where we do agree (and there were broad areas in the piece that I liked), and that is that ‘Science and Religion are not in conflict’. I even suspect they may be in greater agreement than we now can fathom.

I still wish you lots of luck on the piece. I just hope you can find a way to get the whole thing together and guide worthy (that is a poor term, as I do not set myself up as an expert or arbiter on the matter. Forgive me, but I could not come up with a better way to phrase it.)

Dear Towel Surfer,

Please forgive my not having replied before. Apart from having several medical appointments, I also lost my way trying to come back onto the new format of h2g2.

I am very touched that you should wish for me to comment of your very well thought-through and reasonable article for submission to Peer Review. Also very brave my dear, as several researchers appear to be commenting from the point of view of their held beliefs - which of course they are entitled to do. Equally however, you have the right to your views.

I found your article most thought-provoking and challenging. I liked your explication of the fact that other religions could also have their own theologies. A further thought that comes to mind is the concept of Ecumenism. When one studies the theologies of several religions does that constitute Ecumenism? I wonder.

I had problems with the naive section. I must agree with the one researcher who felt that it would be difficult for children to grasp the full implications of Theology and very difficult to formulate the concept in such a way that would enable them to grasp it.

There is one word which you have left out in your last revisions. Forgive me if I do not point it out to you now. I am tired and I shall probably not find it. However now that I am now safely back on line I hope to follow the progress of your article until it is published. It certainly merits it and I do think that we can all benefit from it even those who profess to various forms of atheism and agnosticism.

With much respect and admiration in tackling a really controversial subject.

AR1
temporarily transformed (I hope) into Researcher 238400 or AlsoRan 2

238400, aka AR1, aka AlsoRan 2,
Welcome to the discussion.

I always appreciate a positive comment on an entry. And, from its theocentric viewpoint you had several valid things to say about it.

But, you have apparently been around here for a while. Is not PR a place to help a researcher prepare a piece for edited entry status? Do you really not see the reasons we are cautioning the author that he should expect it not to be picked as is?

You gave a fine kudo, but not much of a refutation of the warnings and concerns we offer. Frankly, the author has made his position so solidly clear that it would only take a word from them and I would happily chime out, leaving him to his peace and his opinions. I no longer hold hope that he will change a word of it.

Bless you (and the author), and have a great day.