Theology

Theology (theos+logos: god-discourse), an integral aspect of any systematic religion, is the study of God or many gods. Theologians are typically engaged in scriptural exegesis, apologetics, and diverse forms of argument and analysis on the doctrine of the religion; Christianity in particular is well-known for this.

Theological disagreements often lead to the formation of schismatic branches holding their distinctive doctrines as a standard measure of orthodoxy. Blog and forum discussions are often a painful testimony to amateur theologians bickering with each other or confronting atheist tactics, even if proper theological debate is also a known online phenomena.

Fundamental interpretations of theology lead to radical clashes with society. A topic much discussed is Islamic fundamentalism and the deployment of terrorism. Medieval witch hunts and Hindu nationalists' sabotage of Valentine's Day share something in common – a foundation in theology.

Theology has also helped many to better understand matters of spirit, coming to terms with life and their chosen God or gods, as an abundance of online testimonies reveals. Theology has played a significant role in upholding culture and societies in the past, even if its continued relevance is debated in the Information Age bent on science and all things verifiable. We're obviously looking at a two-edged sword.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “Theology”

• Tending to the Holy -- Review

  
  Ponderings on a Faith Journey — Authority: 477
  TENDING TO THE HOLY: The Practice of the Presence of God in Ministry. By Bruce G. Epperly and Katherine Gould Epperly. Foreword by Kent Ira Goff. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2009. xii + 196 pp. Busy pastors often take little time to attend to their physical, emotional, or spiritual life. They also often ...
  4 hours ago

• Featured: DIVINE DISCONTENT by Jonathon Kahn [Vol. 2, #45]

  
  The Englewood Review of Books — Authority: 131
  “Jeremiads, Sacrifice and the Redemption of a People” A Review of Divine Discontent: The Religious Imagination of W.E.B. DuBois. By Jonathon Kahn. Reviewed by Chris Smith . Divine Discontent: The Religious Imagination of W.E.B. DuBois. Jonathon Kahn ...
  6 hours ago

• New Book on John Wesley and Methodism

  
  RELIGION IN AMERICAN HISTORY — Authority: 422
  Randall Stephens Cambridge University Press has a marvelous series called the Cambridge Companions to Religion . Of particular interest to readers of this blog will be: Dana Evan Kaplan, ed., The Cambridge Companion to American Judaism (2005); Stephen J. Stein, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Jonathan Edwards ...
  6 hours ago

• Oaths, Lies and Social Responsibility

  
  Acton Institute PowerBlog — Authority: 527
  The other day I was tracking down a quotation I heard repeated at a local gathering and came across an interesting book published in 1834. On the title page of the “Googled” Oaths; Their Origin, Nature and History someone had scribbled “full of information… a superior work.” The introductory paragraph ...
  6 hours ago

• Chris Castaldos book, "Holy Ground"

  
  By Every Word... — Authority: 129
  I am very glad to recommend Chris Castaldo’s book, “ Holy Ground – Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic, ” by participating in his blog tour. Chris serves as Pastor of Outreach and Church Planting at College Church in Wheaton, IL. One of the things I most appreciate about the book was learning from ...
  7 hours ago

• “Exegesis is an act of sustained humility” by Eugene Peterson

  
  Tolle Lege — Authority: 130
  “Exegesis does not mean mastering the text, it means submitting to it as it is given to us. Exegesis doesn’t take charge of the text and impose superior knowledge on it; it enters the world of the text and lets the text ‘read’ us. Exegesis is an act of sustained humility.” –Eugene Peterson,  Eat This ...
  7 hours ago

• Interview with Paul Washer on the background of his “Shocking Sermon.”

  
  Defending. Contending. — Authority: 505
  For those familiar with Paul Washer’s “Shocking Sermon” (featured on DefCon here ), you will want to check out the following eleven-minute interview piece in which Paul Washer explains the circumstances preceding his delivery of that sermon to 5,000 youth. You can watch the interview below, or download the ...
  8 hours ago

• “Exegesis is an act of love” by Eugene Peterson

  
  Tolle Lege — Authority: 130
  “Too many Bible readers assume that exegesis is what you do after you have learned Greek and Hebrew. That’s simply not true. Exegesis is nothing more than a careful and loving reading of the text in our mother tongue. Greek and Hebrew are well worth learning, but if you haven’t had the privilege, settle for ...
  8 hours ago

• Quotes (650)

  
  Defending. Contending. — Authority: 505
  Richard Baxter said, “Don’t pretend to love your people if you favor their sins.” Any pastor who says, “We don’t deal with sin here” doesn’t love his people, and it’s questionable whether he loves his God. Anybody who loves God loves what God loves, and what God loves is holiness and God loves His ...
  8 hours ago

• An Evaluation of John Piper’s ‘Future Grace,’ From C or C Friend Rob Weaver

  
  Creed:or:Chaos — Authority: 119
  Click for wiki John Piper is arguably one of the most influential preachers among the current generation of Calvinist and Reformed Christians in America. So many things about Piper are great, but the things that are not so great need to be recognized — precisely because he’s so influential. C or C friend Rob ...
  8 hours ago

• “Eat this book” by Eugene Peterson

  
  Tolle Lege — Authority: 130
  “We are fond of saying that the Bible has all the answers. And that is certainly correct. The text of the Bible sets us in a reality that is congruent with who we are as created beings in God’s image and what we are destined for in the purposes of Christ. But the Bible also has all the questions, many of them that ...
  8 hours ago

• Danger of Christian Complacency

  
  GRACE & PEACE — Authority: 115
  It may defy common wisdom, but sound doctrine is important to the renewal of the contemporary church.  While many view doctrine as divisive and unecesary trivia, recent studies by Thom Rainer , Ed Stetzer , and others, reveal that sound doctrine is a hallmark of churches that are the most effective in ...
  8 hours ago

• How to Recognize When Truth Becomes Our Idol

  
  :: in.a.mirror.dimly :: — Authority: 465
  Though it doesn’t always happen  intentionally, truth is capable of creating boundaries around ourselves and our fellow Christians. While I believe that truth, creeds, and biblical lessons are vitally important for Christians, committing to preserving truth over acting it out can have a series of unintended ...
  11 hours ago

• Let Us Pray for Obama Every Day

  
  One Man's Thoughts — Authority: 427
  As Christians, we are commanded to pray for our leaders. Psalm 109:8 is a good verse to include in our daily prayers.
  11 hours ago

• Religious Authority: Does Your Standard Measure Up? GA-NOV

  
  The Blog Prophet — Authority: 119
  Why is the Bible our Authority? by Dan Owen, p. 12 This is a really good article about the authority of the Apostles (not just because Dan Owen is from Paducah ).  He doesn’t refer to the mentality, but some seem to think that what Jesus said in red has more authority than what the Apostles wrote.  But Owen ...
  11 hours ago

• Time to Study The Old Testament…Again – Part 2, The Books

  
  Mormon Matters — Authority: 529
  In this part 2 of the Studying the Old Testament series, we will discuss the books of the Old Testament, how they were organized, different books contained in different bibles, the translations and extra-biblical books.The BooksYou would think that for scriptures as old as the Old Testament is that everyone would ...
  11 hours ago

• Reuter Edition of Ursinus Online!

  
  Heidelblog — Authority: 567
  There is an amazing electronic text of Ursinus’ Opera online. Thanks to Sebastian Heck for pointing us to this amazing resource.Posted in Academic Stuff, Christian History, Historical Theology, Recovering the Reformed Confession Tagged: reformed orthodoxy, Zacharias Ursinus
  12 hours ago

• Links of the Week

  
  My World — Authority: 139
  The first Clash of the Titans trailer . I love movies like this. John Piper on When you don’t want to do what you ought to do . Is your church’s vision too small? I hope this can never be said of Revolution. Two Interviews with Matt Chander:   Church planting, preaching and leadership  & Celebrity, ...
  13 hours ago

• Morning - St. Felix of Valois, Confessor - November 20th, 2009

  
  Traditional Latin Mass in Maryland — Authority: 141
  ADW Blog >> On the "Beauty" of Dying A Priest Life >> How to Choose a Catholic College A Trail of Flowers >> Regarding hobbits Chiesa.expressonline.it (Sandro Magister) >> Ahead of Meeting with Artists, Pope Benedict Acts as Docent Creative Minority Report ...
  13 hours ago

• Baptist Identity? Assembly of God Identity? Denominational Struggles in an Ecumenical World

  
  sbcIMPACT life :: theology :: church :: ministry :: missions :: worship — Authority: 110
  The Baptist Identity movement has been one of the driving forces that energized the Baptist blogging world (both ways). Some bloggers have consistently advocated that the key (or a key) to the renewal of the SBC is a reaffirmation of those distinctive doctrines and practices that have marked Baptist churches ...
  15 hours ago

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