'''Christian of Christianity,See, e.g., Duncan Dormor et al (eds), ''Anglicanism, the Answer to Modernity'' (London: Continuum, 2003) draw on the resources of the Christian tradition to address some present situation or need,For example, see Timothy Gorringe, ''Crime'', Changing Society and the Churches Series (London:SPCK, 2004) or for a variety of other reasons.
Christian theology has permeated much of Western Culture , especially in pre-modern Europe. Therefore, because of their interdependence a proper understanding of either Western culture or Christian theology requires a full understanding of both.
The emergence of Christian theology has sometimes been presented as the triumph of Hellenistic Rationality over the Hebraic Faith of Jesus and the early disciples. The early African theologian Tertullian , for instance, complained that the 'Athens' of philosophy was corrupting the 'Jerusalem' of faith. Tertullian, ''De praescriptione haereticorum'' 7 . More recent discussions have qualified and nuanced this picture.
- From the very beginning of the Christian movement, followers of Jesus tried to make sense of the impact of Jesus of Nazareth, and began arguing about differing ways of making sense. There has never been an uncontested, unrationalized Christian faith.See, for example, Stephen Sykes, ''The Identity of Christianity'' (London: SPCK, 1984) or Wayne Meeks, 'Inventing the Christ: multicultural process and poetry among the first Christians', ''Studia Theologica'' 58.1, pp.77-96, for arguments along these lines.
- These processes of making sense initially drew upon the ideas and narratives of contemporary Judaism, which was already Hellenized in various degrees. As time went by, ideas and narratives from other Hellenistic context were drawn on, but the Jewish scriptures remained a key driver of theological development, and too sharp a distinction between Hebraic and Hellenistic is unsustainable. Some elements of early Christian theologizing previously thought to be thoroughly 'Hellenistic' (e.g., the Prologue of John's Gospel) are now regularly argued to be thoroughly Jewish.
- The ideas and narratives drawn on in this process were transformed as they were given a new context in Christian practices of devotion, community—formation and evangelism—and the extent to which borrowings from Hellenistic culture (for instance) were given new meanings in this process should not be underestimated.Larry Hurtado, ''Lord Jesus Christ'' (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003)
- One of the characteristics of those strands of early Christianity (in the second and third centuries) sometimes called 'proto-orthodox' (because they are the most direct ancestors of the forms of Christianity that in the fourth century were defined as Orthodox), invested a great deal of time and energy in communication between widely spread conversations, and in pursuing a deep interest in each other's beliefs and practices. This concern and communication seems to have been as much a driver of the development of theological activity as the desire to communicate Christianity to, or make it acceptable in, a Hellenistic culture.See Rowan Williams, 'Does it make sense to speak of pre–Nicene orthodoxy?' in idem (ed.) ''The Making of Orthodoxy'' (Cambridge: CUP, 1989), pp.1-23.
See Also: History of Christian theology
See also:
- the main Theology article, which includes material on the history of the word "theology" in Christianity, and
- the main article on the History Of Theology , which presents the story of Christian, Jewish and Islamic theology.
There are large numbers of ways of categorizing Christian different approaches to Christian theology.
Christian theologians may be specialists in one or more theological sub-disciplines. These are the kinds of phrases that one finds in quite a few job titles: 'Professor of x', 'Senior Lecturer in y':
- Apologetics —studying Christian theology as it compares to other Worldview s in order to give a defense of faith and to challenge others' beliefs.
- Biblical Hermeneutics —interpretation of the Bible , often with particular emphasis on the nature and constraints of contemporary interpretation;
- Biblical Studies —interpretation of the Bible , often with particular emphasis on historical-critical investigation;
- Biblical Theology —interpretation of the Bible , often with particular emphasis on links between biblical texts and the topics of systematic or dogmatic theology.
- Constructive Theology —generally another name for Systematic Theology ; also specifically a Postmodernist approach to Systematic Theology , applying (among other things) Feminist Theory , Queer Theory , Deconstruction ism, and Hermeneutics to theological topics.
- Dogmatic Theology —studying theology (or Dogma ) as it developed in different Church Denominations .
- Ecumenical Theology —comparing the doctrines of the diverse churches, the eastern orthodox, the roman catholic and protestant, (calvinistic, lutheran, anglican) in order to find solutions of the controverses in order finally to obtain restoration of the One Church Catholic.
- Exegesis —interpretation of the Bible , often with particular emphasis on interpretation for ecclesial use;
- Historical Theology —studying Christian theology as it has developed (and is developing) in History .
- Homiletics —in theology the application of the general principles of rhetoric to the specific department of public preaching.
- Moral Theology —explores the Moral and Ethical dimensions of the religious life
- Natural Theology —the discussion of those aspects of theology that can be investigated without the help of revelation, scriptures or tradition (sometimes contrasted with "positive theology")—the discussion of those aspects of theology.
- Patristics or Patrology —studies the teaching of Church Fathers , or the development of Christian ideas and practice in the period of the Church Fathers.
- Philosophical Theology —philosophical analysis of theological topics.
- Pragmatic or Practical Theology —studying theology as it relates to everyday living and service to God, including serving as a Religious Minister .
- Spiritual theology—studying theology as a means to and Tradition are both used as guides for spiritual growth and discipline
- Systematic Theology (doctrinal theology, dogmatic theology or philosophical theology)—focused on the attempt to arrange and interpret the ideas current in the religion. This is also associated with Constructive Theology .
- Theological Aesthetics — interdisciplinary study of Theology and Aesthetics / The Arts .
These topics crop up again and again in Christian theology; they are the main recurrent 'loci' around which Christian theological discussion revolves.
- Bible . The nature and means of its Inspiration , etc.; including Hermeneutics —the development and study of theories of the interpretation and understanding of texts
- Eschatology —the study of the ''last things'', or End Times . Covers subjects such as death and the Afterlife , the end of History , the end of the World , the Last Judgment , the nature of Hope and progress, etc.
- Christology —the study of Jesus Christ , of his nature(s), and of the relationship between his divinity and humanity;
- Creation Theology
- Divine Providence .
- Ecclesiology (sometimes a subsection of missiology)—the study of the Christian Church , including the Institutional Structure , Sacraments and practices (especially the Worship of God) thereof.
- Missiology (sometimes a subsection of ecclesiology)—God's will in the world, missions, evangelism, etc.
- Pneumatology —the study of the Holy Spirit , sometimes also 'geist' as in Hegelianism and other philosophico-theological systems;
- Soteriology —the study of the nature and means of Salvation ; might include Hamartiology —the study of Sin ; Law And Gospel —the study of the relationship between Divine Law and Divine Grace ; justification; sanctification.
- Theological Anthropology —the study of Humanity , especially as it relates to the divine
- Theology Proper —the study of God 's attributes, nature, and relation to the world. Might include Theodicy —Attempts at reconciling the existence of Evil and suffering in the world with the nature and justice of God; and Apophatic Theology (or negative theology; sometimes contrasted with "cataphatic theology")—the discussion of what God is ''not'', or the investigation of how language about God breaks down. See The Nature Of God In Western Theology .
One important branch of Christian theology is Roman Catholic Theology which has these major teachings:
Christians have had theological disagreements since the time of Jesus . Theological disputes have given rise to many Schism s and different Christian Denomination s, sects and movements.
Since the Reformation emphasized the rights of Christians to expound their own views of theology, most theological distinctions have occurred between the various Protestant denominations. Some elaboration of Roman Catholic doctrines; however, have been promulgated since that time. The differences between many of the denominations are relatively minor, and this has helped Ecumenical efforts in recent times.
- .
- Anabaptism
- Anglicanism
- theology of Anglican ism.
- churches, adopted by some Baptist s and Congregationalist s.
- Brethrenism: Anabaptist-Pietist, with Open and Exclusive streams.
- Calvinism
- .
- Congregationalism : form of governance used in Congregationalist, Baptist and Pentecostal churches in which each congregation is self-governing and independent of all others.
- Counter-Reformation or Catholic Reformation.
- theology.
- Deism : replaces faith with reason, believes God does not intervene in earthly affairs.
- Dispensationalism : Belief in a conservative, biblically literalist philosophy of history that by stressing the distinction between Israel and the Church, rejects Replacement Theology.
- Evangelicalism : conservative Protestant theology. Some churches have evangelical and liberal streams.
- Latitudinarian ism: broad church theology of Anglicanism.
- Liberalism : Belief in interpreting the Bible to allow for the maximum amount of individual freedom.
- ical / Evangelical theology of Anglicanism.
- Methodism : form of governance and doctrine used in Methodist Church.
- Modernism : Belief that truth changes so doctrine must change in light of new information or trends.
- and others to be additional divine scriptures; belief in living prophets; generally reject the Nicene Creed and other early creeds.
- belief in positive thinking. Several denominations arose from it including Unity Church , and Religious Science .
- Nonconformism : advocacy of religious liberty. Includes Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists and Salvationists.
- .
- Pentecostalism : doctrine that charismatic gifts have been restored to the church.
- ism placing renewed emphasis on the Bible and a universal priesthood.
- Presbyterianism : form of governance used in Presbyterian and Reformed churches.
- Puritanism : Movement to cleanse Episcopalianism of any "ritualistic" aspects.
- Supersessionism : Belief that the Church, the Body of Christ, is the people of God in the new covenant.
- model of the church
- - Seventh-day Adventists and Latter Day Saints.
- Salvation Army : It is an offshoot of the Methodist Church
- . It led to Anglo-Catholicism.
- Ultramontanism : A French Roman Catholic reaction to church-state separation.
- Unification Church
- Unitarianism : Rejects Trinity and divinity of Christ.
- Universalism : In various forms, the belief that all people will receive salvation.
- Wesleyanism: A stream of Methodism. The title was reintroduced by a schism in the New Zealand church.
In addition to the movements listed above, the following are some of the movements found amongst Christian theologians:
- Andcone, J.H., eds. ''Black Theology; A Documentary History, 1966–1979.'' Orbis Books, 1979
- Appiah-Kubi, K and Torres, S., eds. ''African Theology en Route,'' Orbis Books, 1979
- Bonino, J.M. ''Doing theology in a Revolutionary situation,'' Philadelphia:Fortress Press, 1975.
- ''Christian Theology Reader'' by Alister McGrath . ISBN 0–631–20637-X
- ''Christian Theology: An Introduction'' by Alister McGrath . ISBN 0–631–22528–5
- Elwood, D.J., ed. ''Asian Christian Theology; Emerging Themes.'' Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1979
- Fuller, Reginald H. ''The Foundations Of New Testament Christology'' (1965). ISBN 0–684–15532-X
- Gonzalez, Justo L. ''The Story of Christianity'' (1984, 1985, 1999). ISBN 1–56563–522–1)
- Hill, Jonathan 2003) ''The History of Christian Thought''. ISBN 0–7459–5093–0 and 0830827765
- Koyama, Kosuke, Waterbuffalo Theology. Orbis books, 1974
- Leith, John H. ''Introduction to the Reformed Tradition'' (1978). ISBN 0–8042–0479–9)
- Miranda, J. ''Being and the Messiah.'' Orbis Books, 1974.
- Moore, B., ed. ''The Challenge of Black Theology in South Africa.'' Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1974.
- Muzorewa, H. ''African Theology: Its Origin and Development.'' Orbis Books, 1984.
- Sobrino, J. ''Christology on the Crossroads.'' Orbis Books, 1978
- ''Systematic Theology'', an Ecumenical trilogy by Thomas Oden
- ---Volume 1: ''The Living God'' (1992). ISBN 0–06–066363–4
- ---Volume 2: ''The Word of Life'' (1992). ISBN 0–06–066364–2
- ---Volume 3: ''Life in the Spirit'' (1994). ISBN 0–06–066362–6
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