The Ways in Which Practical Theology and Systematic Theology Influence and Understanding of Evangelical Theology - Coursework Example

Religion and Theology s Essay plan Introduction Practical theology…………………………………………………………………….2 Systematic theology………………………………………………………………….3 Evangelic theory……………………………………………………………………...4 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….5 References……………………………………………………………………………6 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………...7 Introduction The research of religion brought scientist to the new content - theology. Numerous theological studies serve as the topics for dissertations and paper works nowadays, as it is one of the most actual themes for students. The aim of this work is to describe two main branches of theology: practical and systematic and study their influence on the evangelical theory. The essence of theology has been studied for a long time. First of all, it is important to give the definition of this term. Theology is a systematic presentation and interpretation of any religious doctrine, the tenets of any religion1. It is a set of disciplines involved in the study, which outline, justify and protect the doctrine of God, his activity and revelation to the world. Theology should be distinguished from philosophy of religion. Philosophy of religion in the broadest sense is a set of philosophical attitudes toward religion, conceptualizations of its nature and functions, as well as the philosophical justification of the existence of the deity as well as scientific arguments about its nature to the world and man; in the narrow sense - the explication of independent philosophical arguments about the divinity and religion. K. Marks describes the essence of men and theology and their interconnection in the following way: “Man is the world of man, the state, society. This state, this society, produce religion, a reverse world-consciousness, because they are a reversed world” (Marks, K., 1964, 41). Scholars have identified various forms of theology - natural theology, dogmatic theology, empirical theology, etc. This works studies the practical and systematic theology, as these approaches are very important for the understanding of the basic principles of religion and identifying one’s own attitude towards them. Practical theology Practical theology is based on the applying of principles of theological knowledge in real life. It usually practiced among the people, who have spiritual connection with God (priests, mediums and so forth) or with the help of scientific devices. The term “scientific” is defined by the criteria that the experimental result should be confirmed by demonstrations of the theoretical events. Any theory should possess practical application. The main topics interested for people nowadays concern the processes of state of the soul after death. This issue is accurately described in the Bible, the Koran, in the Eastern sages, but they are not supported scientifically and practically. There has been many researches during the last years on the topic, but none of them was scientifically proved. The mediums state that the spiritual level of each person is recorded visually (on the subtle body). The scientists inform that the energy of aura of any person contains certain signs, symbols and numbers, talking about his level of spiritual development, as well as information in the form of signs, indicating that part of the human visual path of spiritual development, which he personally does not suffice for the acquisition of immortality, the salvation of souls. According to F. S. Schenck: “Practical theology is distinguished from the other branches of Theology in that it is the application of them all to the influencing of human life” (1903, 7). People always try to break the borders and see the things hidden from the ordinary person. The concepts of life, birth, death and so forth are described in the Bible, but they lack the evidence and this fact makes people hesitate and look for the answers. Meditation can also be considered as a part of practical theology, by means of which every person has an opportunity to achieve the unity with the Creator. “The rise and continued existence of a certain order of men, which is devoted to the service of sacred things, has in general an anthropological, social, and individual ground, from which it is sufficiently explicable” (Oosterzee, J. J., 1878, 18). Systematic theology Systematic theology is a systematic exposition of biblical truths in which people believe2. Unfortunately, the majority of the doctrines are not concentrated in one place of the Scripture. This problem is usually sold by the priests, who under the influence of the Holy Spirit, can compare the information contained in the various biblical texts, and then set out a particular God-inspired truth in the necessary completeness. Biblical truths do not exist by itself, they all are interconnected without exception. Therefore, every biblical topic or doctrine can be understandable only in relation to other truths of the Scripture. This is another important feature of a systematic exposition of biblical truth. “The Bible makes eternal life to consist in knowledge; sinfulness is blindness, or darkness; the transition from a state of sin to a state of holiness is a transition from darkness into light; men are said to be renewed unto knowledge” (Hodge, C., 1968, 16). Systematic Theology can strengthen the faith of people. The study of dogma, accompanied by dipping into the truth of the Scripture, helps to make the faith more conscious and therefore more robust. The desire to know more and think about God is the witness of spiritual health. If a person does not want to think about the Biblical truths, it is a testament to his indifference to God. The reluctance of deep penetration into the spiritual truths content with a smattering of the biblical text speaks of the inner laziness. “The highest certainty of religious truth is profoundly desirable. Doubtful truths do not meet the conscious needs of the soul. We need truth as truth is with God, and as revealing his mind and will” (Miley, J., 1892, 30). Evangelic theory “All the religions of the world give the first place to morality” (Miller, J., 1887, 25). Evangelism is Gods commandment for all believers to carry the message of Christ, talking about salvation. However, one cannot say exactly what is written in the Bible. Sometimes, the servants of the church tell the unbeliever that after repentance, his life will be beautiful and serene. God will heal all diseases, provide with finance and a good job, establish relations in the family, and so forth. This information is fail as God is not a magic wand, obliged to execute all human’s desires, moreover, He did not promise an easy and serene life of His children. God promised them victory, but not the lack of battles and difficulties. A good example among the leaders of evangelism was Martin Luther. G. Berger described him in the following way: “Luther did not insist on new forms of worship for his church. He was mainly concerned with the individual’s faith in God, which he believed was the only way to achieve salvation” (1983, 56). The practical and systematical theology had a great influence on the formation of my opinion as for the evangelical theology. This concept proclaims gospel as the center for the strengthening of human faith. The study of it should be practically and systematically applied. The process of structural arrangement of information helped me to understand the principles of theology better and concentrate on the important details. The experience taken from this work finds its representation in the statement: “New countries are continually discovered but the old laws of nature are always found in them” (Parley, W., 1836, 214). The principles of the gospel teach people to keep their moral values higher than the material ones and appreciate the gifts, given them by nature. It keeps the spiritual mood in a good trim and provides people with high moral standards. Conclusion Although the content of theology has not yet become an important force in the church, it became very influential in the intellectual sphere of seminaries and graduate schools. Traditionally, in Christianity, theology is understood under the systematic analysis of the nature, intentions and activities of God as an attempt to speak about the divine being3. Modern Christian theology, according to the confessional lines is inserted into the theology of the Church of the East, the Orthodox churches of the Byzantine tradition, the ancient Eastern Churches, the Catholic study of the Protestant denominations, including evangelical ones and others. A person who does not have a mystical experience of communion with God, according to the Orthodox tradition, cannot qualify, the true knowledge about Him. “May it also be a foreshadowing of peace grounded in profound respect for humankind and the commonality of human experience” (Trible, P., 2006, 121). Both approaches of theology: practical and systematic are the means of cognition of the Higher Sources and give the better understanding of evangelic peculiarities and principles. References Berger, G, Religion, Franklin Watts, New York, 1983. Dwight, T, Theology explained and defended in a series of sermons, G. & C. & H. Carvill, New York, 1830. Hodge, C, Systematic theology, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Michigan, 1968. Marks, K, F Engels, On religion, Schoken books, New York, 1964. Miley, J, Systematic theology, Hunt and Eaton, New York, 1892. Miller, J, Theology, Evangelical Reform Publication co., Princeton, 1887. Oosterzee, JJ, Practical theology, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1878. Parley, W, Natural theology or evidence of the existence and attributes of the deity, Whittaker & Co; and Simpkin and Marshall, London, 1836. Schenck, FS, Modern practical theology: a manual of homiletics, liturgics, poimenics, archagics, pedagogy, sociology, and the English Bible, Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York and London, 1903. Trible, P, LM Russel, Hugar, Sarah, and their children. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives, Westminster John Knox Press, Kentucky, 2006. Read More