The Shape of Practical Theology - 638 Words

Book Report: The Shape of Practical Theology In The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis, Ray Anderson attempts what he considers a new approach to modern Christianity. Anderson believes that the modern church is plagued by a significant divide between theology and practical Christianity. Many churches approach these two aspects of religion as if they are separate, rather the practical sides of Christianity lacking. Therefore, Andersons goal in the book is to relate modern practical Christianity directly to theology. He uses theology to tackle some of the major social issues that impact on modern practicing Christians including: preaching, worship, family, therapy, burnout, relationships, social justice, ethics, and homosexuality. Instead of treating these issues as if they are separate from theology, Anderson demonstrates how theology directly interacts with each of these issues. Anderson uses a three-prong approach to explain his theological approach to modern Christianity. The first prong is the shape of practical theology. The goal of this section is not to merely describe the skills and methods that people use to engage in theology, but to look at practical theology as a meaningful way to grow ones relationship with God and ones understanding of Scripture. In this section, Anderson introduces the concept of practical theology, talks about the discipline of practical theology, a Trinitarian model of practical theology, lookingShow MoreRelatedTheology Is The Science Of God And The Universe961 Words   |  4 Pagesto God, theology is about God and His plan for man. Theology is the science of God and the relations between God and the universe.† In order to first understand if theology is important or not in our lives, it is vital to understand what theology is. In the simplest definition of theology according to Merriam Webster dictionary is â€Å"the study of religious faith, practice, and experience or the study of God and God’s relation to the world. † The more in depth definition of Christian theology on the otherRead MoreMoral Discernment By Father Richard Gula1458 Words   |  6 Pagesdistinguishing between what God is calling us to do from what someone else in authority says what we should do† (Gula 14). I never really tied in our conscience to theology and morality. It made me think about how all of our studies can be tied into each other with one idea. For example, our conscience can be tied with studies like, theology, psychology, and philosophy. It makes me understand why Alvernia University wants us to take all different areas to studies to help us tie in each field of studyRead MoreCase Study1076 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause he had schizophrenia and was homeless, some people treated his death as unimportant because he wasn’t â€Å"doing anything for society anyway† (as one member of my church told me). Similarly, in The Disabled God Nancy Eiesland demonstrates the ways theology and church tradition and practice exclude and harm persons with disabilities; how we speak about God influences who we believe God to be, and how we should treat others. For Eiesland, â€Å"full inclusion within the community of God calls for new symbolsRead MoreUnderstanding Of Religion And Its Association Of Christianity Essay1518 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"father of modern liberal theology,† Friedrich Schleiermacher was a German theologian, philosopher and biblical scholar who directed his attention on the nature of religious experience from the viewpoint of the individual and human nature itself (Marià ±a 3). Influenced by German Romanticism, Schleiermacher attempted to settle the criticisms of the Enlightenment with conventional Protestant Christianity (Crouter 261). By doing so, he abandoned the pietistic Moravian theology that had neglected to gratifyRead MoreCritique Of Stephen Seamands M inistry1540 Words   |  7 Pagesadequately observed or applied the doctrine of the Trinity significantly in the vocation of ministry. It is with this perception that he postulates a Trinitarian approach of ministry that emphasizes communion with God shaping our language about God to shape our heart so we might share in the life of God. In arriving at his conclusions, Seamands uses well-grounded Scriptural foundations, along with a descriptive of the Icon of the Holy Trinity painted in 1425 by a Russian Monk, Andrei Rublev, includingRead MorePersonal Theology of Discipleship Essay1790 Words   |  8 PagesPersonal Theology of Discipleship Just what is theology? This question can have a wide variety of answers, from irrelevant facts about God thought up by men centuries ago, to complicated theories discussed by scholars. Typically, the average 21st century man does not consider theology as relevant. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Theology by definition has the characteristics of both expounding the truth, and impacting the believer with that truth (Himes, 2011). ThereforeRead MoreThe Revelation Of Jesus Christ1238 Words   |  5 Pagespowerful connections of the father . The church encyclopedia also argues that in the eyes of the man, Jesus was a man because he came in the natures of a man who had a body and functioning soul. The contradiction only comes in where the clerics and theologies in the whole domain started arguing on the exact nature of Jesus Christ. Some posed questions as to whether he was a natural man. The conclusions made after continuous deliberations were that Jesus was a unique person. The explanation came in sinceRead MoreFriedrich Schleiermacher s Views On Religion And Religion Essay1517 Words   |  7 PagesKnown as the â€Å"Father of Modern Liberal Theology,† Friedrich Schleiermacher was a German philosopher and theologian who directed his attention on the nature of religious experience from the viewpoint of the individual and human nature itself (Marià ±a 3). Highly influenced by German Romanticism, Schleiermacher attempted to settle the criticisms of the Enlightenment with conventional Protestant Christianity (Crout er 261). By doing so, he abandoned the Moravian theology that had neglected to gratify his growingRead MoreTheology and Development2829 Words   |  12 PagesBRENT FRIESLAAR April 8, 2012 FACILITATOR: REV. DR. ISAIAS CHACHINE | Theology and Development | | Theological Reflection - Amartya Sen and Elaine Graham, Heather Walton and Frances Ward | This paper will deal with the importance of Theological reflection and it will argue that theological reflection is the responsibility of all individuals in the human race. In response to Amartya Sen’s work in Development as Freedom as well the treatment of theological reflection and the analysis of methodsRead MoreJohn Locke s Views On Education879 Words   |  4 Pagespolitical theorists of the 17th century. He was one of the founders of the school of thought known as British Empiricism. Mr. Locke made foundational contributions to modern theories of limited, liberal government. He was also influential in the areas of theology, religious toleration, and educational theory. During his services at Shaftesbury, John Locke had been writing. He published all of his most significant works within six years of following his return to England. Locke’s â€Å"Essay Concerning Human Understanding†