is theology, despite its many mistakes, approaching some sort of truth? what is some evidence for this?
2007-10-01 19:51:00 · 8 answers · asked by vorenhutz 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the only progress made is that the theist are making radical changes to their theology to fit into the modern society, this is not done through want, but through fear of theological bankruptcy, as they need to change and move along with the values of a fickle society. eg Homosexuality
2007-10-01 20:06:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a very difficult question to answer. As a graduate student in a theological seminary, I can say that yes progress has been made. I will couch that by saying that progress is not always good.
Further, many things are cyclical. For example, the New Testament teachings of sexual ethics are completely revolutionary. The Bible was the first book of its kind by many hundreds of years to teach such things. Here is that example:
7:3 A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. 7:4 It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. 7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. (NET, 1Cor, 7.3-5b)
Well shortly after the Apostle Paul taught that women have equal sexual rights in marriage, the church quit teaching it for the next oh 1900 years.
So in the above example, some things have progressed but in some things we have yet, or are just beginning to get back to how it was originally taught.
2007-10-02 03:09:32 · answer #2 · answered by δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and no. I think there are, within all different theologies, certain truths. I think that religion explains God about as well as ancient map explains the known universe today. It is a dated and inaccurate look at what may be, not an explanation of what is.
Religion is not like science. There are no new discoveries about God. Even the Dead Sea Scrolls did not disprove the bible as a work of God. This leads me to think faith does not develop through time, but rather perseveres through it..
2007-10-02 03:09:42 · answer #3 · answered by benjamin QMM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Complete and correct theological truth descended with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, about 34 AD.
Any progress made since then is limited to advances in man's understanding and appreciation of that truth.
Here's some good evidence:
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
2007-10-02 03:53:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as there is humanity, theology will continue to progress. In fact theology becomes more sophisticated in a continous complex world.
2007-10-02 22:00:03 · answer #5 · answered by Ismael M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so, though like evolution it's not a nice neat linear process. It gets pretty messy at some points. I would say, on the whole though, that it's a world of progress to get from St. Augustine to Reinhold Niebuhr, for example. Of course, it really takes decades or centuries for things to shake out and see what lasting impact someone's thought will have on mankind.
Peace to you.
2007-10-02 02:57:20 · answer #6 · answered by Orpheus Rising 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is constant progress in theology - many people are reinterpreting the Bible to get it to mean what they want it to mean, eg. that homosexuality is not a sin.
2007-10-02 02:57:25 · answer #7 · answered by cheir 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
watch: what the bleep do we know/ down the rabbit hole.
this knowledge has been around for 1000's of years.
2007-10-02 02:57:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋