WHAT IS THEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The theological knowledge is the study of God and the facts related to divinity. Its existence is not questioned, since it takes it for granted, being an absolute truth. It focuses mainly on studying the attributes, power and other knowledge about the higher self.

These studies are based on the concept of belief, which refers to the mental state in which a person immerses himself when he takes some knowledge as completely true. That is why this type of study has as its main criticism that it starts from a very subjective basis.

The origin of theological knowledge dates back to Ancient Greece, a polytheistic civilization that already had thinkers (Plato or Aristotle among others) who tried to understand deities and Metaphysics.

Characteristics of theological knowledge

Origin

Theology is a word that comes from the Greek, being a conjunction of "theos" which means God, and "logos" which translates into study or reasoning. It is no coincidence that the origin of this word is Greek, since in classical Greece of the 4th and 5th centuries BC. C began to use this concept to shape reasoning about divine things.

Some of the thinkers who shaped theological knowledge were Aristotle, Plato, Adimanto de Colito or Pherecides de Siros.

Study of the divine

One of the main characteristics that define theological knowledge is that it is not earthly, since it considers that the revelation that believers possess does not depend on man, but is given by divine entities.

Is systematic

Theological knowledge is considered to be systematic, since it explains the origin, meaning, purpose and future of the created world, because it has divine foundations that establish it.

It is not verifiable

It is a study that cannot be verified, since the evidence it presents is by no means verifiable. Lastly, it is dogmatic knowledge, since believers need acts of faith to gain acceptance.

Is subjective

Theological knowledge is subjective and evaluative, because it is based on different norms and doctrines that over the years have been instituted as sacred questions.

Its main source is sacred works

In addition, it is considered that theological knowledge can be acquired through the different sacred texts and books, such as the Koran, The Torah, or The Bible.

It is not refutable

For scholars in this sense, the content set forth there is fully and rationally accepted and the events narrated are a pure truth for believers.

Examples of theological knowledge

We will mention what the different types of theological studies and knowledge based on the religion you study consist of, especially in the Abrahamic religions.

Catholic theological knowledge

'The Holy Family of the bird' by Bartolomé Estaban Murillo (1650)

The theology of Catholicism largely resembles Catholic knowledge of the Christian religion. Its main purpose is to understand and deepen the understanding, through the Bible, which is taken as the word of God.

In addition, one of the foundations of theological knowledge is that it believes that faith can be acquired through experiences, and at the same time, be expressed. Therefore, it seeks to understand and analyze, through knowledge, faith.

On the other hand, Catholic theology questions itself and asks questions about the nature created by God, as well as its properties and its essence, concentrating mainly on the fact that this God is in turn two more persons. This is called the Trinity, made up of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Its main scholars in the past were the bishops, with Augustine and Anselmo de Aosta as the most prominent.

The latter postulated what is now known as the basis of Catholic theology, a phrase in Latin: “quaero intelligere ut credam, sed credo ut intelligam”, which in our language means that “understanding must be taken as a principle, but also Faith". The understanding to analyze and understand belief, but also, faith is the reason why reason is used.

The scholars of this branch measure its truth and have as its main reliable source human reason, but taken very hand in hand with the revelation given by God.

Also, the church is considered to be the perfect place to analyze theology, since it is the place where all the faith and professed Christianity congregate and which is the object of study.

The theological study of Catholicism is considered to also include parallel themes such as:

• The study of salvation (called soteriology)
• the study about the life of the Virgin Mary (called Mariology)
• The beginning and destiny of things according to God (predestination)
• The study of end-time events or Revelation (eschatology)
• And finally, the study of the defense and sustained explanation of the bases of the faith (apologetics) is attributed to him.

Protestant theological knowledge

Martin Luther

It is mainly based on Catholic theological knowledge, however, from Martin Luther a break arises in both religions, because he brings Protestantism to the world, eliminating certain dogmas that until that moment Catholicism had considered totally true.

The main characteristics of this religion is that it considers that Salvation is achieved through a single faith, thanks to the unique and multifaceted Grace of God.

In addition, everything is by the intercessory work of Christ, the son of God, although only God has the Glory, and man has no recognition or part in Salvation.

All this is included in 5 postulates written in Latin: Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria.

The main characteristics of Protestant Christianity, which differ from Catholicism, is that Protestantism recognizes the Bible as infallible and is widely recognized as the most important book in the world. In addition, this aspect excludes the so-called apocryphal books, included in the Catholic Bible.

On the other hand, no type of worship of images, saints, statues or even human persons is allowed.

Likewise, the adoration of the Virgin Mary, or any other biblical prophet or character, is prohibited, considering that they are simply people used by God, but not intercessors before Him.

In this way, no bowing or prostration is practiced before any of the images mentioned above.

Lastly, purgatory is not believed to actually exist, nor does it allow baptism of newborn babies or young children. They will simply be baptized when the subject is morally aware of himself and so decides.

Orthodox theological knowledge

Orthodox theology, one of the branches of the Christian faith, bases its objective on the study of the Holy Spirit as a single and indivisible truth. Some of its main characteristics is that they are considered the religion that has best preserved the doctrine of Jesus and his apostles and that they believe in salvation as long as the individual is free from sin.

Jewish theological knowledge

The theological knowledge of Judaism studies the main features of this faith, the oldest of the monotheistic religions. Its main source of knowledge is the Torah, the basis and foundation of this ancient religion.

References

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