What is the role of theology?

Question

I am looking for honest, intelligent, civlized answers preferably from Christians.

Remember the question is not what is theology, but what is the ROLE of theology.

Great answers!

Answer 1

Like any "ology", it is the science or study of a certain subject. In this case, the subject of "theo", which is latin for God.

No one would expect ever child, on its own, to discover counting, followed by adding and subtracting, then multiplication, fractions (we all figured those out real easy), algebra, geometry, trigonomatry, calculus, statistics, etc. All with no help or guidance.

Yet people seem to think the anyone should be able to completing understand about God without help, research, instruction, guidance etc. Might explain why there are some many religions, opinions, and just plain craziness in the area of religion.

Theology is the study of God and religion. But tracking the people over the years who have had (or claimed) encounters with God, comparing, studying, etc. they can give us a framework on which to build. Amoung the things they contribute are accurate translations of the scriptures, as few of us are able to read them in the original languages. A deeper underatnding of the themes and dictrines, as most of us do not have the years required to dedicate to studying the scriptures. An understanding of the historical and other forces that shape the content of the scriptures. They preserve the history, prayers, doctrines and thoughts of great men and women of religion that have gone before.

Much like the Bible, which contains 66 books by over 40 authors on three different continents written over a 1500 year period. The Bible gives a progressive revelation of God which each book building on the ones before and foreshadowing the ones to come. So Chrsitian theology does the same. Preserving and explaining the things others have already learned about God.

Helps to have someone who can explain fractions to you. Then you might, someday, finally understand them.

Answer 2

Theology has no role. It is a study about God. Theologians are the ones who have the role, to teach people about God. Theology is not a property of the Christians alone except when you want only to learn about Christian Faith. To learn about other people's God also fall under Theological studies.
I belong to a Theosophical and Theological Society wherein I have studied about several religions that I took interest in learning.

Answer 3

Think of theology proper as a vast catalog of categories of Biblical topics that are suggested in Scripture. Under that category say like "salvation" will lie all kinds of theological ideas and theories. Everything under each category has a sliding scale. For instance with baptism, the extreme left is a liberal interpretation of baptism that states its an unimportant symbol of our faith. The extreme right would contend that it not only is necessary for salvation but that it itself saves you. Then you have all the moderate beliefs in the middle.

This is theology, the discussion of what the Biblical ideas mean and how they are applied,

Answer 4

Theology is the science of knowing God. Science uses the human intellect.
To know God is developping an intimate and constant relationship with God through prayer, fasting, praise and worship, study and meditation of the Word of God (the Bible). The connection has to be made with the heart. Theology may help you understand something about doctrines and things around God but it CAN'T teach you who God is. This kind of knowledge is given through revelation by the Holy Spirit in someone's spirit. Jesus is the Way to get to God.

Answer 5

It's something like this:

1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons shortening
3 cups self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup raisins, optional
.
Vanilla Glaze
1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
PREPARATION:
Cut shortening into flour with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1 cup milk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a floured surface; knead lightly.
Roll dough into a 20x14-inch rectangle; spread the softened butter on dough, leaving a border of about 1/2-inch.

Combine sugar and cinnamon; mix well, and sprinkle over butter. Top with the chopped pecans and raisins, if using. Beginning at long side, roll up jelly roll fashion; press edges and ends together securely. Cut into 1 inch slices; place cut side down in a buttered 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake at 375° for 20 to 25 minutes.
Combine powdered sugar and 3 tablespoon milk and vanilla; drizzle over warm rolls.

Theology is yummy, by the way.

Answer 6

the role of theology is to basically take a subject and study it intently, One of the best examples of this I can give you off the top of my head is the argument between Calvinism and armenianism. Calvinists have devised a theory called the five points of cavinism they form the acronym TULIP if I remember correctly tulip stands for Total depravity, unconditional Election, limited atonement, irresistable grace, perseverence of the saints. the theology of this is that we are so totaly depraved that we would never look for God so he must look for us. (In short) Unconditional election means that God has decided who he was going to save before the process began, we have no choice in whether or not we are saved, those of us who are elect and saved are that way because God elected us, not because we want to be saved. limited attonement means in short that Christ died only for those who he would save. irresistable grace means that we have no choice, if God wills, you cannot refuse him. perseverence of the saints, means that we cannot loose our salvation, and those who are elect will persevere because they are elect, and they will do God's will in a mindless obediance, because they have no choice. In essence Calvinists believe that free will does not exist, if you are saved as a bridge needing to be crossed you will just magicly one day find the bridge under you. you don't have a choice whether you go to heaven or hell your were created for one or the other and that's all there is to it. This theology is the study of salvation, there are other studies in theology, appologetics, ect. but mainly long story short theology is the study of something.

Answer 7

Simply speaking, theology is the study of God. The role of the study of God would be to try to know and understand Him.

Answer 8

The role of theology is to explore, understand, and try to place in proper context, the things relating to God.

Answer 9

Theology is the study of one or more religions. Theo- means God in Greek and logy is study. The nature of a Holy God and His requirements of human beings is what Christian Theology is all about.
It is not a study of the history of a religion. It is a study of what things mean in one religion.

Answer 10

I know this for a fact... Theology is a term for bible college graduate so one can work in the field. It warps the minds of those who follow the man made teaching. I have many friends that are Preacher s and their wives and they are closed minded and hard headed and feel superior the rest of the congregation.