Theology - is it a science or not?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

Theology is the science of God, the philosophical knowledge of his essence, the nature of religious truths. The modern concept of discipline has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy, but it received its main content and principles with the advent of Christianity. Thought out etymologically (from the Greek words - "Theou" and "logos"), objectively it means teaching, subjectively - total knowledge exclusively in the context of "God's justification".

If we talk about pagan mythology or heretical ideas that, according to the Church, contain serious errors, then in this case it is considered false. According to the most influential philosopher and politician of the early Middle Ages, Aurelius Augustine, theology is "reasoning and discussion about God." It is strongly associated with Christian doctrines.

What is its purpose? The fact is that there are a lot of scientists who position themselves as theologians, butsome of them are engaged only in the accumulation of certain facts. Only a few work on research and are able to express their own opinion. Too often it happens that many people only prove something to each other, forgetting that theology is, first of all, a scientific discipline, and it must function accordingly, rely on research and understanding of new ideas.

Theologians use various forms of its analysis: philosophical, historical, spiritual and others. It should help to explain and compare, defend or promote any of the myriad religious topics discussed by various movements. For example, the well-known movement "liberation theology" interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in connection with the need to free poor people from difficult economic, political, social conditions. It must be said that today there is a debate in the academic circles of the discipline as to whether it is specific to Christianity or can be extended to other cult traditions. Although, as you know, scientific inquiries are typical, for example, for Buddhism. They are also devoted to the study of understanding the world, only, respectively, in the context of this teaching. But since it lacks the concept of theism, it is preferred to be labeled as a philosophy.

There are five kinds of scientific knowledge. Natural, biblical, dogmatic, practical and "proper" theology. The first is limited to the fact of God's existence. The most famous workdirectly related to this belief is Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theology, in which he proves the existence of God by arguments known as the "five ways". The second is limited to biblical revelation, its only source, regardless of any philosophical systems, is the Great Book. The third refers to those truths that are absolutely believed. The fourth type is related to what are the functions of these beliefs, what role they play in the lives of real people. The fifth type is the understanding and knowledge of God by man.

One way or another, but the question arises: "Is theology really a science in the true sense of the word, given its significant dependence on the Church?" Are not all the proofs which are supposed to demonstrate the truth and infallibility of dogma merely a dialectical game? Today, this discipline is experiencing a certain regression all over the world. In many countries, the theological faculties still existing in public universities are seen as useless ballast, and there are demands to be transferred to episcopal seminaries so that they can no longer "injure" the intellectual freedom of the people.