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Prologomena

Christology

Pneumatology

Angelology

Demonology

Anthropology

Ecclesiology

Eschatology

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Missiology

Holiness

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Introduction: Why I Want to Write a Systematic Theology

The idea of writing a systematic theology appeals to me for a couple of reasons.  At the very least, I believe that writing it will clarify my own understanding of Christian belief. After this, my secondary hope is to set an example for other Christians who want to reflect on their own faith, and maybe even find someone who might be interested in coming along for the journey.  I want to state up front that even though I am a seminary graduate, I am not a professional theologian. I have an M.Div. in Biblical Studies (not in Theology), and I have pursued a secular career (not an academic, or ministerial position). I know that other people have been more thorough and erudite in explaining the fine points of Christian Theology. My purpose is not to assume a place among the writers of great works, but simply my own exercise in what St. Augustine called fides quaerens intellectum (faith seeking understanding). This work has value because it is an exploration of my own understanding...
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Atonement Theories

C hristians have made several attempts to explain how Jesus's death and resurrection could address the problem of sin. These attempts are called "theories of atonement." Different groups tend to favor one over the other, and sometimes that can cause bitter conflict.   But its important to remember that there is a difference between the actual events referred to in the pages of the Bible, and our human attempts to explain their significance.  Models can teach us valuable insights about the world but they can . We are not saved by having the right theory, but by the actual work of Jesus. Just as you can know enough about cars to drive one without having to understand what's going on under the hood. You can have faith in the work Jesus did to reconcile you to God - even if you don't properly understand how it works. As the British statistician G.E. Box said, "All models are wrong, but some are useful." Here is a brief summary of each of these views. Recapit...
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Our Search for Transcendence

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 L ook anywhere in the world, and you'll see people engaging in all kinds of religious expression, holding beliefs that describe realities beyond our material world.  Our perennial interest in transcendence appears to be a uniquely human trait. It’s the reason 20th-century Romanian religious  historian Mircea Eliade, referred to human beings as homo religiosus . In the pre-modern world Atheism didn’t exist as we know it. Back then, the term was used as an accusation against those who deviated from religious norms. For instance, the Greek philosopher Celsus accused Christians of being atheists, for refusing to worship the Roman gods.  Over time, with the success of the scientific method, the word "atheist" began to take on new meanings. By the early 18th people began to use the word to describe their belief in scientific materialism—a shift in worldview brought about by the Enlightenment. Today, we live in what Charles Taylor calls a secular age. In A Secular Age , Ta...
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