Christian theology
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Christian theology practices theology from a Christian viewpoint or studies Christianity theologically. Given the overwhelming influence exercised by Christianity, especially in pre-modern Europe, Christian theology permeates much of Western culture and often reflects that culture.
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Sub-disciplines
Sub-disciplines of Christian theology include:
- Theology proper - the study of God
- Bibliology - the study of the Bible and of its inspiration
- Christology - the study Christ, of his nature(s), and of the relationship between the divine and human in Christ
- Pneumatology - the study of the Holy Spirit
- Anthropology - the study of humanity, especially as it relates to the divine
- Angelology - the study of created spirit beings, including angels, demons, and Satan
- Hamartiology - the study of sin
- Soteriology - the study of salvation
- Ecclesiology - the study of the Christian church as a sociological institution and a hierarchical organization
- Eschatology - the study of the end times
History
The history of Christian theology interwines with Church history and covers important developments in philosophy and in the history of ideas. Specific issues such as heresy, Arianism, and the Protestant Reformation are of particular importance.
Methodology
There are several methods to the study of theology. They are, in no particular order:
- Biblical Theology - studying theology as it is presented and develops through the Bible by focusing on progressive revelation.
- Systematic theology - studying theology by topic.
- Constructive Theology - a Postmodernist approach to Systematic theology, applying (among other things) Feminist theory, Queer theory, Deconstructionism, and Hermeneutics to theological topics
- Historical theology - studying theology as it has developed (and is developing) in history.
- Dogmatic theology - studying theology (or dogma) as it developed in different church denominations.
- Pragmatic or practical theology - studying theology as it relates to serving as a religious minister.
- Apologetics - studying Christian theology as it compares to other worldviews.
- Narrative theology - studying a narrative presentation of the faith rather than dogmatic development
Schools of Christian theology
- Anglicanism
- Arminianism / Methodism
- Baptist
- Black theology
- Calvinism / Reformed theology
- Charismaticism / Pentecostalism
- Evangelicalism
- Feminist theology
- Fundamentalism
- Liberalism
- Liberation theology
- Lutheranism
- Neo-orthodoxy
- Orthodox Christianity
- Paleo-Orthodoxy
- Personalism
- Process theology
- Quakerism
- Restorationism
- Roman Catholicism / Thomism
References
- The Story of Christianity by Justo L. Gonzalez (1984, 1985, 1999, ISBN 1565635221)
- The History of Christian Thought by Jonathan Hill (2003, ISBN 0745950930 and 0830827765)
- Christian Theology: An Introduction by Alister McGrath (ISBN 0631225285)
- Christian Theology Reader by Alister McGrath (ISBN 063120637X)
- Systematic Theology, an ecumenical trilogy by Thomas Oden
- Volume 1: The Living God (1992, ISBN 0060663634)
- Volume 2: The Word of Life (1992, ISBN 0060663642)
- Volume 3: Life in the Spirit (1994, ISBN 0060663626)