Understanding the Theology of the Modern or Emerging Churches - Research Proposal Example

College Contents Contents 2 Indicative 3 Aim and focus of study 3 Context for the Research 4 A rational approach to the Bible 4 2.Enlightenment ideas i.e. secularism 5 3.Modern Philosophical Systems 5 4.Theological rebellions 6 The Evolution of Dogma 7 Research design 9 Participatory action research 9 Church research 10 Church wedding research 10 Clergy wedding research 11 Span of study 11 References 12 Research Proposal Indicative Title Evaluating the effects of modernism in the development of modern or emerging churches so as to perfectly understand the evolution of dogma by critically analyzing the various changes in church theology, for example theological rebellion, the mushrooming of modern philosophical systems, secularism and other enlightenment ideas, as well rationalistic approaches to bible scriptures1. Aim and focus of study This research aims to utilize its findings in understanding the theology of the modern or emerging churches. The research aims at critically looking at modernism and how it has revolutionized religious dogmata, hence, influencing the church theology experienced in this contemporary world2. Modernist theology refers to opinions in theology molded by ideas of the 19th, 20th, and 20ist century that characterizes a change from the past church theology to the contemporary church theology. The paper shall look at the influence that the British and French intellectual circles and to a very little extent Italy had in the development of modernist ideas.The modernist movement in churches is said to be influenced by a group of protestant theologians as well as clergy men3. The research shall look at how these protestant theologians as well as clergy men initiated this movement starting from the famous Tubingen school in the early phases of the 19th century putting into note that some theologians were against the movement and these include Tyrell George who expressed a great dislike for liberal post-modernist ideas in church theology. Context for the Research 1. A rational approach to the Bible Research on the ways through which the church has changed the methods through which it approached the Bible and other religious literature will give a clear picture of how modernism has influenced the transition of church theology to its current state as it is used by emerging, or modernized churches.Rationalism is said to have characterized the enlightenment process and took a different view on the historicity of Biblical literature as well as miracles4. The research shall help analyze how this approach was used in the interpretation of the Bible by putting more focus and attention on the literature itself and not what the priests or fathers taught about it. The research shall help identify which churches were greatly influenced by this, putting special attention on the protestant and Anglican churches. Additionally, the paper shall critically base the influence of Martin Luther’s doctrines in which he insisted that the scriptures are the highest authority, hence, can be solely be relied upon in all things related to Christian life as well as salvation5. 2. Enlightenment ideas i.e. secularism The research paper shall seek to evaluate the effect that secularism has had on the church theology in emerging churches. The idea of secularism is usually seen as the best and most preferred course of civic fields, for example politics, and is that that is commonly used in religion in identifying the good when it comes to religion.Therefore, the State and church are to be set apart as the laws, for example, laws forbidding murder should only cover or regulate common grounds of thoughts held by religious groups. However, the secularists saw the possibility to draw a clear distinction between structures that were product of religious structures and those that were purely political. The research shall critically evaluated how this modernist idea has received and is continuing to receive resistance as some theologians insist that such a distinction is not possible6. This shall be done by critically analyzing the doctrines of St. Thomas Aquinas, who insisted that all aspects of human society were all organized for the final destination of heaven. 3. Modern Philosophical Systems Research shall seek to identify some of the modern philosophical systems. The research shall look at how philosophical works influenced and are continuing to influence church theology in emerging churches. The research shall put special emphasis on the philosophical works of philosophers Bergson and Kant. The research shall critically analyze the philosopher’s attempts to synthesize metaphysics, epistemologies, and vocabularies as well as a whole range of modern philosophical fields with religion in much more the same way as the synthesis of Aristotelian and Platonic philosophies had been done with church teachings. 4. Theological rebellions The research paper shall also look at theological rebellion and how it has shaped the theology of emerging churches7. According to a lot of literature, theological rebellion is the opposition or contradiction of church policies that were that already exist. The research shall look at how this rebellion begun, and try and relate its origin to the development of scientific as well as naturalistic studies. It is the research that the development of historicism as a method of thinking will be critically investigated and how it is a product of theological rebellions shall get established. Historicism suggested that ideas of individuals are usually expressed by age and era. Here, modernism is assumed to generally create the belief that most dogma or religious teachings were simply novelties that emerged due to specific circumstances spread out at different times in man’s history. Additionally, the rise of rationalism reduced the great role that miracles played and employed the philosophical teaching that God could not be known, and it argued that religion must be preliminary caused or based upon the feelings of the believers of whom it is whollycentered8. The research shall critically evaluate this and look at the possible impact that secularism has played on weakening the support or favor religion had among the believers. Rationalism operated on the basic principle that if there does not exist any reasonable facts to events, then society should not be forced or organized to believing anything simply because it’s in the religious dogma. The Evolution of Dogma This research shall also seek to look at how the teachings of the church i.e. dogma evolve and change over time and how this influences thetheology of emerging churches. Hence, the research shall deeply evaluate how these church teachings change and whether the change is usually only in terms of expression or in terms of substance as well as it changes from time to time in man’s history. The research shall also greatly draw data from any literature containing information on the heresies period of the church. Heretic individuals are people seen or deemed to believe, teach and practice something completely different from what was being taught in the church9. These were individuals who would most often claim of see themselves as the ones that are right and the rest of the church is wrong basing their claims on receiving personal revelations from God or that they have understood better the teachings of God in a way others haven’t. The research shall look at how the above lead to schism which was the separation of the church where many of who were seen as offenders were sent away and others were excommunicated. By this the research shall be able to trace the beginning of different churches with different visions, ideologies and missions. The theory of evolution of dogmathat looks at the development of doctrines shall greatly contribute to information in this research. The theory is developed in quite the same or similar manner as Luther’s theory of salvation which allows for the constant update of standards of morality within the church10. Moral standards have shifted a lot especially in the onset of the 20th to the 21st century, a majority of Christians not accepting the teachings of the theory which is salvations were simply asked to refrain from taking communion, whereas for others, the fact that dogma could change from time to time they took this as an opportunity to update church moralities and this majorly took place in the catholic church . Research design Participatory action research This research design shall be employed because it usually gives professionals engaging in the research to effectively reflect on the issue at hand as well as improve and build on their research capabilities. This research design also promotes good praxis among research colleagues working as a team and has become the future of professional research development as well as well as reflective practice11. Participatory action research also promotes democracy in research by bringing in all stake holders involved as equal and as having equal responsibilities to the outcome of the research. It gives room for reflection and this usually takes place within action incorporating accepted practices and theories12. Hence, with this research design, the researcher shall participate in the normal religious lives of people as well as perfectly observe the clergy of the contemporary church, with the findings acquired, the hypothesis drawn from the findings shall be carefully compared to the explanations of theology in the early ancient times, which shall help draw a clear map as to how the theology of emerging churches is different from the theology of the early churches. Church research This research shall help in identifying how different churches have different practices, teachings i.e. dogmas and how their theologies differ. Upon modernism in the 19th century to now, many churches have come to existence each bearing a difference or specific uniqueness to the others13. However, research on churches shall help us identify the factors that lead to the development of various churches of which some I have mentioned above and how the very same factors are continuing to create more churches from the ones that already exist. Churches that shall have special focus put on them the research include the Protestant, Anglican, and CatholicChurches. Church wedding research This shall be conducted to see the influence of the church in the formation of the most basic human institution i.e. the family. The research shall involve the critical analysis of weddings and take note of whether they still have a high presence of the clergy. The research shall involve a critical observance of weddings that take place within church vicinities and outside church vicinities critically drawing out critical information that might explain any changes that might explain the theological difference of emerging churches and that of churches that have otherwise tried to be conservative. Clergy wedding research This shall be done to investigate and draw data in changes that have taken place in marriage among the clergy in the church. This shall mainly focus on the Catholic Church and shall be set to answer the questions of whether the clergy are allowed to marry, and if not, is this reason why protestant churches broke off from the church? Additionally, research in this particular field shall set out to address issues of same sex marriages within the church, do emerging churches support it? And if they do is it allowed for the clergy belonging to the same sex allowed to marry each other? By answering these questions, we shall be able to get a clear descriptionof how marriage and weddings in the church are changing over time. Span of study The research data is anticipatedto be collected over a time span of 1 year. This shall enable a full participatory action research cycle which shall involve a critical analysis of the contemporary church theology and compare it with findings from secondary data on past church theology. This comparison shall help in the tracing of factors or situations responsible for that transition and help draw a clear picture of how theology of emerging churches came to being. References Top of Form Astley, Jeff. SCM Studyguide to Christian Doctrine. London: SCM Press, 2010. Top of Form Boswell, John. Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century. Chicago [Ill.]: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1980. Bottom of Form Top of Form Earey, Mark. Worship That Cares: An Introduction to Pastoral Liturgy. London: SCM Press, 2012. Top of Form Earey, Mark. Finding Your Way Around Common Worship: A Simple Guide. London: Church House Pub, 2011. Fermanis, Porscha. John Keats and the Ideas of the Enlightenment. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Johnston, Sarah Iles. Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2004. Top of Form Schadé, Johannes P. Encyclopedia of World Religions. London: Concord Reference Books, 2005. Stein, Stephen J. Communities of Dissent: A History of Alternative Religions in America. Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford University Press, 2003. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Wright, H. Norman, and H. Norman Wright. The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What to Do and Say When It Matters Most! Ventura, Calif: Regal/From Gospel Light, 2011. Bottom of Form Whitehead, Jack, and Jean McNiff. Action Research Living Theory. London: SAGE Publications, 2006. Read More