The Importance of Prayer in Theology as Academic Discipline

Abstract

This paper presents an argument for the legitimate place of theology and theological education in the university context. To support this argument, paradoxically, this article demonstrates a particularity of Christian theology by speaking of the necessity of prayer which is one of the most religious activities; this is the characteristic of this article. First, to prove this argument, this article defines theology as a science. Theology is a specifically academic science with its particular subject and object. Second, this study examines prayer as a communion with God. Prayer is essential to have a relationship with God, who is not only the object of theology but the subject. In this section, this study shows how prayer contributes to theological studies. Third, this study looks into the principles of prayer, by which theological studies can be guided in the right direction. Finally, this article argues the importance of prayer for theologians. Prayer, as a means to integrate intellect and spirituality, is an inevitable practice for theologians to proceed with the work of theology. Through prayer, theologians not only achieve a clearer understanding of God’s revelation but become able to live out with the church the time of the kingdom of God, which is distinguished from the world.