Investigating definitions of Theology is not easy, especially when there are various accounts and resources available. With the internet and books at people’s disposal it is not surprising that so many meanings are floating around.
Analysing Wikipedia’s entry on theology it is evident that the definitions given are vague and confusing: ‘the Latin equivalent, theologia, as reasoning or discussion’ Reading you become puzzled as to the meaning of Theology; unclear in explaining the term through its history. This is not a beneficial source in determining a clear and precise definition. A better tool for an established meaning is to look at professors’ of Theology works.
McGraths classification of theology is an evangelical view; theology is ‘talk about God’. Whilst Christian theology is ‘talk about God’ from a Christian perspective. Persistent that theology is predominately for Christians he goes on to explain:
His contents page in ‘Theology the Basics’ gives a sense of what theologians discuss when reflecting theologically. His contents page lists nine aspects of theology:
· Faith
· God
· Creation
· Jesus
· Salvation
· Trinity
· Church
· Sacraments
· Heaven
These nine aspects enable us to define theology by the principle that theology contains all of the above elements. To create a definition we should study them in greater detail.
Ford’s outline of theology is ‘at its broadest is thinking about questions raised by and about the religions.’ Thus questioning why religions are so controversial and so important to so many people that they will fight, suffer and make enormous sacrifices when they see it at stake? The answer to this unification when religion faces times of crisis is a more liberal approach, that shows theology as a part of society and life that goes beyond the churches.
Modern day media also shows theology in various ways. Through the Simpsons we are able to establish connections with theology and the media. In the storylines the production incorporates aspects of McGraths contents page which shows a sense of what theology is about:
· Church- You have to go to church each Sunday in order to be a good Christian
· Faith- the storyline examines the nature of faith, for example if we were to not attend church weekly does that mean we have lost our faith?
· God- Stereotypically God is shown as an old man with a beard; there is no proof that God is male or that he has a beard, so why is it that the media are determined to stereotype the image of God.
The episodes aspect of theology was shown to question the nature of God for the viewer to decide for themselves who/what God is to them.
Throughout the lecture we were shown different views and different definitions as to What theology is, in which we can now answer, theology is a broad subject that is not just limited to Christianity but can be examined with other secular views in mind.
Analysing Wikipedia’s entry on theology it is evident that the definitions given are vague and confusing: ‘the Latin equivalent, theologia, as reasoning or discussion’ Reading you become puzzled as to the meaning of Theology; unclear in explaining the term through its history. This is not a beneficial source in determining a clear and precise definition. A better tool for an established meaning is to look at professors’ of Theology works.
McGraths classification of theology is an evangelical view; theology is ‘talk about God’. Whilst Christian theology is ‘talk about God’ from a Christian perspective. Persistent that theology is predominately for Christians he goes on to explain:
‘Christians have quite distinct ideas about who God is and what God is like… these are expressed in the bible, which all Christians regard as being of immense importance to matters of faith.’
Written by a professor of theology as opposed to somebody with little understanding of the topic, McGraths definition is precise and simple to understand.His contents page in ‘Theology the Basics’ gives a sense of what theologians discuss when reflecting theologically. His contents page lists nine aspects of theology:
· Faith
· God
· Creation
· Jesus
· Salvation
· Trinity
· Church
· Sacraments
· Heaven
These nine aspects enable us to define theology by the principle that theology contains all of the above elements. To create a definition we should study them in greater detail.
Ford’s outline of theology is ‘at its broadest is thinking about questions raised by and about the religions.’ Thus questioning why religions are so controversial and so important to so many people that they will fight, suffer and make enormous sacrifices when they see it at stake? The answer to this unification when religion faces times of crisis is a more liberal approach, that shows theology as a part of society and life that goes beyond the churches.
Modern day media also shows theology in various ways. Through the Simpsons we are able to establish connections with theology and the media. In the storylines the production incorporates aspects of McGraths contents page which shows a sense of what theology is about:
· Church- You have to go to church each Sunday in order to be a good Christian
· Faith- the storyline examines the nature of faith, for example if we were to not attend church weekly does that mean we have lost our faith?
· God- Stereotypically God is shown as an old man with a beard; there is no proof that God is male or that he has a beard, so why is it that the media are determined to stereotype the image of God.
The episodes aspect of theology was shown to question the nature of God for the viewer to decide for themselves who/what God is to them.
Throughout the lecture we were shown different views and different definitions as to What theology is, in which we can now answer, theology is a broad subject that is not just limited to Christianity but can be examined with other secular views in mind.
