Application/Actualization/tropological sense

MJ. Smith

It seems that most systems of Scripture study end up identifying what we should believe OR what we should do as part of the meaning of scripture. Yes, I am aware that there is wide variation in what different theological threads find as the "what we should do", but it should be no more difficult than theology to build a data set of the various positions on what we should do. This would fill a major gap in the support Logos/Verbum provides for churches that produce position papers for issues of social equality and justice, interfaith and ecumenical relationships, and hot buttons such as female leaders, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, just war, capital punishment . . . Just pulling together the list of scriptures used by each position would be a major step forward. I would envision an ontology, a label & search, a guide section, and Factbook entries i.e. something equivalent to what was done for the less broadly used Counseling Guide. It is important that Lutheran (or other liberal/progressive church), Methodist (or other pietist church), Mennonite (or other Peace Church), Unitarian (or other church highly involved in interfaith issues), and Catholic (or other historical church with a strong contemplative tradition) positions be represented in the building of the ontology not a later add-in.