Theological Methodology Research Articles

A Study on the Typology of Korean Theology: Towards a ‘Methodology of Theology’

A Study on the Typology of Korean Theology: Towards a ‘Methodology of Theology’

The problem of methodology in Islamic Theology

The article deals with the main stages of formation of methodological principles in Islamic Theology. The author of the paper analyzes various forms of the methodological approaches demonstration in the theological thought among Muslims since the VII century with the theoretical searches of righteous predecessors - Salafs, method in kalam, methodological searches in modern theological thought and Islamic modernism. The analysis of the formation of the methodological principles allows the author to assert that this problem today is one of the most undeveloped even in the modern Islamic Theology.

Men Shall Be Lovers of Self, Money and Pleasure (II Timothy 3:2, 4): A Contemporary Discourse on the Apostle Paul's Prophecy of the End Times

<p><em>The present time in Nigeria and globally has been more perilous than ever, characterized with bizarre occurrences within the church and the larger society. This study explores the Pauline eschatological prediction of the perilous times when men will become lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure more than God (II Timothy 3:1, 2 & 5). Experiential and theological methodologies were adopted for generating qualitative primary and secondary data. The theological aspect of the research employed the tools of biblical exegesis, textual analysis, and literatures. The experiential aspect involved in-depth interviews (IDIs), observations, social media contents and Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) to access current events and personalized experiences of respondents who were purposively selected from within and outside the church. The results were discussed in the light of Christian theology, social ethics and Pastoral ministry. The Nigerian society is evidently witnessing the perilous times when love of self, money and pleasure will become the untoward defining features of human society and sadly too, of men that profess the faith. Transactional gospel, gimmickry, merchandize of holy things, and self-indulgent love of money are rife in the contemporary church. Ostentatious lifestyles, lack of support for the minister at the local church, and false messages on material blessings are what trap church ministers and laypersons in this end-time evil. The context and practice of ‘full time’ ministry when the local assembly is not able to support its minister is a challenge that predisposes some to ‘Simoniacal’ presentations, offering the gifts of God for monetary gain. Sound biblical teachings to protect the people of God and expose the mercenary spirit in sacred function is the local church most potent weaponry.</em></p><strong> </strong>

Theological Science in the Thought of Thomas F. Torrance: The Integration of Natural and Revealed Theology and Its Implications for Kataphysical Knowledge

In this article, the notion of “theological science” is examined in the thinking of Thomas F. Torrance (1913–2007), with particular attention paid to his synthesis of revealed and natural theology and its consequences for kataphysical knowledge—the comprehension of God via divine self-disclosure. Torrance redefines natural theology as the logical intra-structure that is crucial to theological reasoning, not as a separate field of study. Natural theology creates a full framework for comprehending divine revelation when combined with revealed theology. This research shows how Torrance’s technique reconciles human reason with God’s self-revelation, resulting in a coherent theological methodology. It analyses his reconstruction of natural theology within its proper intellectual and philosophical settings. The paper also discusses Torrance’s theological model’s applicability to Indian Christian contexts, contending that his integrated method provides an essential means of fostering a more profound theological comprehension in modern Indian churches. It becomes clear that pursuing kataphysical knowledge in the way that Torrance does is essential to promoting theological discourse and participation, especially in contexts that are pluralistic and diversified. As a result, this essay presents Torrance’s ideas as a vital addition to the current theological conversation and as a template for addressing the difficulties of faith and knowledge in a multicultural environment.

Longing for (a Taiwanese) academy: practical theology as an essentially hospitable and balanced discipline

ABSTRACT This article argues for two things: the methodology of practical theology and its academic institutions intrinsically embody the concept of hospitality, and the Chinese principle of balance may enhance this understanding. The article begins with a personal reflection on the necessity of a Taiwanese practical theology academy and considers the encouragement received from the Asia Academy of Practical Theology Hong Kong (AAPTHK). It reconsiders the bridge metaphor of practical theology, suggesting a supplementary metaphor drawn from hospitality traditions – the interplay between the roles of host and guest. The article then introduces the Chinese cultural notion of balance to support this new metaphor and avoid some criticisms against intentional hospitality. This notion of balance is then applied as an interpretation tool to understand the dual ‘turns’ in practical theology methodology and the pastoral cycle, demonstrating how various cycle adaptations aim to maintain balance. Ultimately, the discussion culminates in a new vision for a future Taiwanese practical theology academy which is grounded in the principles of balance and hospitality.

조직신학적 관점에서 보는 부활 - 개신교 현대 조직신학자 바르트, 판넨베르크, 몰트만을 중심으로

Today people are very interested in death. However, this interest is an expression of concerns about what kind of life to live now. Also, this interest is an expression of the desire for life after death. In Christian theology, discussions about death or life after death are related to the theological locus of resurrection. This paper focuses on representative systematic theologians who have discussed the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Karl Barth(1886-1968), Wolfhart Pannenberg(1928-2014), and Juergen Moltmann(1926-present). It attempts to take a closer look at how each of them deal with resurrection within each own theological system. Barth, Pannenberg, and Moltmann all acknowledge the possibility of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They accept both the empty tomb event and the appearance event of the resurrected Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible and assert the possibility of resurrection. For all of them, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not fiction, a lie, imagination, or fantasy at all. However, the perspectives from which they approach the resurrection of Jesus Christ are different, and those perspectives are closely related to each own respective theological methodology. Due to differences in theological methodology, the degree to which each person understands the reality, historicity, and factuality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ appears to be different. There are many other detailed topics related to resurrection, but this paper focuses on the possibility of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although they discussed more about the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is not discussed in this paper due to space limitations. Lastly, this paper looks at some implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and briefly address what a life to hope for resurrection is like.

Analysis of the Possibility of Application of Deconstructive Strategy in Theological Studies

The article attempts to analyze the possibility of applying deconstructive strategy in theological research. For this purpose, the author firstly defines the specificity of the deconstructive strategy of thinking, which consists in the researcher’s aspiration to catch the trace left by the author in the original unwritten proto-text by means of revealing oppositions and their loosening, up to their complete splitting, contributing to the disclosure of new meanings in the text. Then, on the basis of the analysis of modern Russian studies concerning the critical comprehension of Jacques Derrida’s theory of deconstruction, a systematization of very contradictory remarks and objections is carried out, as a result of which three critically minded groups are revealed: researchers of Postmodernism and Poststructuralism, accusing deconstruction of debunking stable notions; the scholars of neo-Marxist direction, emphasizing its excessive Theology; theologians of various branches of Christian thought, revealing an atheological and even atheistic character in the deconstructive thinking strategy. The author of the paper further analyses the work of an Arabian scholar ‘Ali Zawwari Ahmad on the criticism of Arab modernists who use western deconstructive methodology in dealing with religious texts, thus revealing that in the contemporary Muslim world there are two opposing views on the use of deconstructive strategies in theological studies, which are according to the traditional Muslim community, faithfully defend the inviolability of religious traditions, including in the field of Theological Methodology.

The Public Role of Religion and the Response of Public Theology

This study discusses theological assertions concerning the public role of religion in post-secular societies. In the context of religion’s renewed emergence in the public sphere, it is being called upon to overcome the beliefs of individual and private realms and actively assume the role of a participant in the common goal of a better society. Religion, in this context, is not confined to the personal sphere but is recognized as a crucial participant in shaping a more desirable societal landscape. Religion holds the potential to renew the spirituality of citizens, foster a sense of belonging, and contribute to the formation of social ethics. In response to these circumstances, Christianity is engaging with a new theological methodology known as public theology, proposing a public role for the church and advocating for the public participation of Christians. This study aims to propose public roles for the church and theology in post-secular societies.

“Homo est deus”: Reflections on Luther's Christology

AbstractIn order to refresh scholarly discussions about Luther's Christology, his discourse on Christ is analyzed in the present article with reference to his humanist background and texts, where he attacks scholasticism, philosophy, and logic and seems to promote a new theological methodology and novel ways of speaking about Christ the man‐God.

The mission and people of God: Rethinking theology and theological methodology in Asia

The 20th century brought unprecedented growth to the global church. With this growth came new and contextual forms of theology, as well as recognition of the limits of the Western theological tradition. However, compared with Africa and Latin America, Asian theology has been slow to develop in response to this shift, especially among conservatives and evangelicals. While several prominent names are often cited as representatives of Asian theology, their work has little impact on much of the Asian church, which is characteristically grassroots and conservative. Scholars continue to debate what Asian theology is and how to do it. This article explores some of the methodological implications of the global shift in theology, specifically for Asian contexts. It also identifies some of the hindrances to better and more relevant Asian theology: (1) a universal top–down approach to theology in Asia and (2) overly Western ways of thinking that have shaped the discipline. Finally, this article offers two possibilities for Asian theology going forward: (1) mission and the reality of God’s work in Asia and (2) the people themselves and the stories of God’s work among them.

Notae Ecclesiae

Unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity, or in Latin known as Notae Ecclesiae, are formulations of faith regarding the Church, confirming her essential attributes that make the Church the Church. In history, these attributes have made their contributions for the teaching of faith, for the apologetical tasks and, lately, as principles and criteria in doing Catholic theology. Thus, evidently, presenting the Church’s mysteries in their essential aspects, these notae have flexibility to be used as theological instruments in dogmatics, catechesis, apologetics, and even in theological methodology. Seeing these facts, it is hoped that dealing with these marks of the Church there are inspirations for further development for theology and also for the life of the Church.

A Proclamation of Hope

This paper explores the theological underpinnings of Pope Francis’s messages to world meetings of popular movements as a way to discern his theology of organizing. In these messages, one encounters Francis’s social teaching, which is rooted in the preferential option for the poor and marginalized. Beyond an epistemological privilege of the poor long embraced in liberation theology, Francis looks to the agency, creativity, and resourcefulness of the poor to locate God’s action in history. He models a theological methodology attentive to the concrete experiences and struggles of those on the peripheries. From there, Francis points to the solidarity, resistance, and disruptive agency of grassroots movements as an expression of the Gospel. He describes the circle of praxis in a way that emphasizes encounter, solidarity, and urgency to act, summarized in his insistence that the “future of humanity” lies “in the hands of peoples and in their ability to organize.”

The Relationship between Theological Prolegomena and Imago Dei

Abstract If the content of theology should align with the method of doing theology, then carefully ensuring consistency between prolegomena and the content of dogmatics is essential for the theological task. Yet for many evangelical theologians, scarcity of prolegomenal considerations has led to systemic problems. Here I investigate how the doctrine of the image of God impinges upon our understanding of the nature of theological language, in order to expose a deep yet tacit inconsistency operative within recent evangelical accounts that affirm the univocity of theological predication. In contrast to these works, my claim is that a robust commitment to a comprehensive doctrine of the imago Dei entails an analogical view of human predications about God. In this regard, works in evangelical systematics that simultaneously affirm univocity and a robust doctrine of imago Dei have not sufficiently synthesized the content of their theology with their theological methodology.

‘Unhiding’ women: Decolonising the mind of a female systematic theologian

This article will consider the parameters of systematic theological-‘knowledge’ today by examining the contribution of women’s theology to the field. This examination takes place in the context of debates about knowledge-construction within institutes of higher learning, and context of increased numbers of women theology students, as well as international emphasis on achieving gender equality, such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. With regard to curriculums of systematic theology, it is noted that a proverbial ‘canon within a canon’ exists with regard to including a diversity of voices in prescribed study material, specifically the contributions of women’s perspectives and women’s history as subject-content. This ‘data-gap’ is problematic with regard to epistemology and hermeneutics, which are instrumental in constructing a grammar of faith – that is, ‘church doctrine’ (which is traditionally the main component of systematic theology). This implies that a type of decolonisation, or unlearning is necessary. If a next generation of women systematic theologians are to be nurtured, approaches to teaching systematic theology and the methodology of systematic theology itself requires deconstruction.Contribution: This research aims to contribute to the fields of systematic theology, women’s studies, women’s theology and gender studies. It will also contribute to the fields of postcolonial epistemology and hermeneutics, as well as the study of the methodology of systematic theology.

Uniting Divided Religious Leaders to Democratize Zimbabwe

Following the presidential announcement of Zimbabwe’s harmonized 2023 electoral date, most Christian, African Traditional, and other religious leaders commendably resumed advocating for peaceful, free, and fair elections. However, as history usually repeats itself, the tables eventually turned. Some of the leaders regressively became divided, submitted to political infiltration, aligned themselves with oppressive politicians, betrayed their fellow leaders as well as God and humanity, and inadvertently supported totalitarianism. By employing Richard Osmer’s practical theological methodology and engaging with the existing literature, this paper reviewed the (dis)unity and (dis)engagement between Christian and African Traditional Religious (ATR) leaders. It also endeavored to address the underlying (dis)connections in view of Jesus Christ’s all-encompassing servant leadership model, diaconal mission, and the African Ubuntu philosophy. Observing that Zimbabwean religious leaders are retrogressively divided by their varying spiritualities, leadership styles, and political orientations, it is recommended to embrace inclusivity and unity amidst diversity. This can be achieved by resisting selfishness and promoting selflessness, unconditional love, generosity, hospitality, tolerance, peace-making, justice, and social cohesion. These values collectively play a role in the democratization of Zimbabwe and are imperative for its advancement.

Epifanische dialogen. De epifanische dimensie in literatuur, het missionaire gesprek en prediking

Salvific experiences with God among contemporaries are an important source for theology, missiology, preaching and the assessment of spiritual life in our culture. My Bright Abyss of Christian Wiman is an interesting example of such a source. In this article the book is assessed as a biographical and poetic description of epiphanic moments. Inspired by Wiman, I explore the concepts of epiphany and dialogue in the context of mission and preaching. To be able to discern epiphanic fragments in the interior life of contemporaries we do not only need mystagogic qualities and dialogical competences in missionary encounters, but also practical theological methodologies. In the previous article, M.J. Kater mentioned four salvific fragments in My Bright Abyss (the fragmentary, human life, despair and atonement). My article is a homiletical-communicative elaboration of these four themes.

Technē: Christian Visions of Technology

Technē: Christian Visions of Technology

Spiritual Theology: The Contribution of Edith Stein

The author of the article studies the spirituality of Edith Stein. He presents Edith Stein’s contribution to the methodology of spiritual theology, her anthropological and theological vision, her evolution of the religious experience, the life of prayer and call to mysticism. Edith Stein carried out research which today would be regarded as being interdisciplinary. Her reflections have a huge influence on the methodology of the theology of spirituality. The spirituality of the Cross which Stein writes about in compliance with the classic masters, nowadays may be an adjustment to the incarnational spirituality, in her overly optimistic view on the usage of creatures and taking for granted the spiritual value of suffering.

Are we still perplexed by Pentecostalism? A roundtable discussion on Wolfgang Vondey’s Pentecostalism: a guide for the Perplexed a decade after publication

ABSTRACT Wolfgang Vondey’s Pentecostalism: A Guide for the Perplexed (2013) is a significant theological introduction to the global Pentecostal movement. In the book Vondey invites his readers to appreciate the diversity of Pentecostalism without attempting to homogenize or essentialise the movement. Ten years on from publication, what has changed in the world of Pentecostalism and to what extent is the book’s argument still valid today? These questions were explored in a roundtable discussion at the 2022 EPTA conference. This discussion – encapsulated in this article – explores Pentecostal orthodoxy, theological methodology, the movement’s relationship with modernity, its glocal features, and approaches to scholarship, before re-articulating how global Pentecostal theology continues to be constituted by its ‘mainstream’ and ‘extreme’ components. This conversation has implications for how global Pentecostalism is best understood, as well as how Pentecostal theology should be conceived.

Athens and Jerusalem Redux

In this essay, I evaluate the extent to which some currents in classical Christian mysticism might count as properly ‘Christian’ against the rules of faith and theological methodology of thinkers like Tertullian, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr. I begin by expounding this methodology as it relates to non-Christian philosophical traditions, and from there explore the rules these thinkers offer, suggesting that the beating heart of these rules is not a string of propositions to affirm so much as it is a commitment to a certain rendition of biblical narrative grammar. After exploring this grammar, I turn to a brief discussion of the foundations of Christian mysticism and the thought of Evagrius Ponticus. The aim here is to illustrate the theoretical foundations of much Christian mysticism, as well as to provide a test case to evaluate how far some prominent elements of this discourse might, or might not, cohere with the biblical narrative grammar elucidated above. I argue that there is ample room to question the legitimacy of Evagrius’s claim to properly Christian theorizing, and suggest this has serious implications for future Christian work in the philosophy of mysticism.