Theology Guide

Sean Boisen said:

Entering Original Sin should show you this:

Sorry to go there again, but I was curious as I am right now studying this topic in Berkouwer's Studies in Dogmatics. Again, this series of entries shows the LST and the Guide need a lot of work.

To begin with, I don't see any reference to the fact that there is a major difference of viewpoint between the Eastern church and the Western/Augustinian tradition; how Romans 5:12 was translated in the Vulgate had a huge impact on how this doctrine developed in the West.* Similarly, the question of inherited/imputed guilt is also a major area of controversy. A guide to systematic theology should at least hint at these issues and direct the reader to resources that discuss them.

Next, the recommended reading lists are very thin and too selective. Most are directed towards sections in Reformed STs and the Summa. A wider range of viewpoints would be helpful. Under the related article, "The Effects of the Fall...", Berkouwer's volume on Man is suggested; his excellent work on Sin (with several chapters on the subject) should be there in the "Original Sin" article. I do hope these reading lists will be enhanced and enlarged as time goes by.

OTOH, I'm happy to see more entries popping up in the Systematic Theologies section--I now see Bavinck and Vos (were they there earlier too?) But the primary aim of this tool--what I think most of your customer base would be looking for--should be to help you explore the depth and breadth of theology in your Logos library. You're going to have to consciously and deliberately reach out beyond the Reformed/Baptist theological paradigm in order to do that.

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*ETA, just a quick expansion for the curious from two translations that make the difference very clear:

Romans 5:12 (Douay-Rheims)

¹²Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death: and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.

Romans 5:12 (EOB: NT)

¹²Therefore, [even] as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, death passed to everyone, because {of which} all sinned.

Hi Sean:

I noticed that you mention in a review that pentecostalism is one of your areas of expertise. Do you mind mentioning the recommended resources to understand their theology, and resources that try to show why some presuppositions they have may not fully jibe with the Bible?

Also could you share with us the workflow you use to compare different perspectives on particular doctrinal topics?

Lastly: in your view, what is the best resource that most completely lists all the key components of what a systematic theology should contain.

I am pretty sure systematic theologians wanna bes like me would greatly appreciate your input.

Kind regards.

Fully none, and that is why I try to understand the perspective of most common ones in different topics to enlarge the conceptual framework to be able to see the different pertinent variables involved.

Maybe I understood wrong the command in the Bible: "Check all, retain what is good".

Kind Regards.

Hi Denise, hope all is going fine.

One little question: what ontology software do you use? protege?

MJ hinted me to ask you. I was impressed with the TheOn and CalOn ontologies, I do not know if you have read the article:

https://projekter.aau.dk/projekter/files/281070062/Master_Thesis_of_Simon_Josias_Graf.pdf

Also, are there any resources that you would recommend to get acquainted with the ontology viewers?

Thanks for any input you share with us.

Blessings.

Pastor Greg said:

Second, maybe I'm just missing it, but since there are obviously a large number of these images in Logos, is there a place where they are contained in a SINGLE image?

Right at the front of the Lexham Survey of Theology resource in your library. Or go direct to the image in the Media Tool.

Mark Barnes said:

Pastor Greg said:

Second, maybe I'm just missing it, but since there are obviously a large number of these images in Logos, is there a place where they are contained in a SINGLE image?

Right at the front of the Lexham Survey of Theology resource in your library. Or go direct to the image in the Media Tool.

Thanks, Mark - that's really helpful. Now to make it a navigation tool . . . 

Hi Mark:

Do you know if is possible to place such diagrams in canvas and then assign links to certain areas that connect to specific locations within a resource?

Hamilton Ramos said:

Thanks for your answer Denise, sorry for the misunderstanding.

As far as theology goes, I like the message that MJ puts at the bottom of her posts:

"Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."

And I like systematic theology because then you can start to explore questions such as:

are there different types of prayer? (i.e. intercessory, for spiritual warfare, praising, situational reporting, etc?)

What does worship in Sprit and truth mean? Todd mentioned that in a Lexicon Truth meant "with nothing to hide", which is another angle from what most people think on it having a "true doctrine" connotation.

And questions like the above take us to other questions: should someone outside orthopraxis worship? how about those that are sincerely mistaken?

should we use spiritual discernment gifts to pinpoint infiltrated tares in ministry / leadership positions? should we unmask them? or should we pray for God to take care of them?

From my perspective, theology is fascinating. I do get your point that much of what is called theology nowadays is nothing but pure indoctrination, and little critical thinking.

Blessed be God for letting us meet persons like you, MJ, Rosie, Mike Barnes, NB MIck, Ks4J, etc. with good God given rationality, common sense, and authentic faith.

Faith which by the way is another fascinating topic: are there many types of faith? (i.e. saving faith, rapturing faith, move mountains faith, get my miracle (or healing) faith), or is it just one type applied to different situations?, does it have measure? as in much, little, etc? And what does it entail? 

Understanding of right doctrine? knowing that Jesus is alive and well through the disclosing of the heart 1 Co 14:25, have a conviction that God is all powerful and for you as adopted children?, is it a certainty that comes after experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who gives testimony that things are so?

Yes as you can see I love theology, best subject in the world, lots of questions, God's grace to allow me to little by little understand.

Am I a dog because of that? not an attack one, maybe a toy breed puppy... playful, optimistic, hoping for the best in situations, and always knowing that the master is the Master (God). LOL.

Blessings.

No, Hamilton, we tested Logos with our dog. He's a good screen cleaner, but most Logosians could not be successful as dogs due to paw size. Cats, yes.

I got to thinking more about your question. I don't do 'theology' but my Bible software tracks theology. At verse level, and scooped up.  So, I guess I look at it backwards. As an example, Paul's arguments don't use Joel, even though they could support his gentile argument.  Similarly, Peter could have, but quickly sidesteps into a clean/unclean argument. So, you have positive tracking, and a negative one. Similarly the 2nd Temple group, and the major denominations.

In my expereience, it's far more significant what arguments aren't used, or completely missing (eg baptism). I'm reading Pagels' Revelation right now. She's doing the same between John and Paul, vs Tertullian and Ignatius, but without the software.

Hi Denise:

Thank you for a very orienting answer. You did spark some good ideas in me. 

I did not find many Pagels works in L8, do you get them electronically in other format?

Thanks Denise:

One question on workflow (yours not L8's):

Do you keep track of different Bible authors as far as their arguments related to certain theological topics, so that you can then do a map of relationships on who uses what intertextually and diachronically?

And in the same line: do you have a taxonomy of possible reasons why an Author would use (or not) another's arguments? (e.g. not remembering that the author talked about it, understanding that the other author was talking about different context, or just not being prompted by the Holy Spirit to make the connection)?

Thanks for any guidance (fascinating stuff by the way).

Blessings.

Thanks Denise for your input:

Denise said:

- Mapping: no. But in my software, you can draw the arguments directly on the text, assign probability functions, and combine.

Can I know what software is that? You can email if you want so Logos does not call foul to mention the software:

hramosicaza@yahoo.com

Or post in the following if email makes you uncomfortable:  https://faithlife.com/learning-package-st-cld-ws-fm-conference/activity

(Or any other means of your liking).

As far as the book, I will read it, but I already see that I have much in common with the author:

From the advertisement explanation about the book:

"Christians must now face up fearlessly to the challenges of living in a "post-truth" age in which deceitful politicians present their media-spun fabrications as "alternative facts." This book is an attempt to enact a transformative theology for these changing times that will equip the global Christian community to take a stand for the gospel in an age of cultural despair and moral fragmentation. The emerging post-Christendom era calls for a new vision of Christianity that has come of age and connects with the spiritual crisis of our times. In helping to make this vision a reality, Searle insists that theology is not merely an academic discipline, but a transformative enterprise that changes the world. Theology is to be experienced not just behind a desk, in an armchair, or in a church, but also in hospitals, in foodbanks, in workplaces, and on the streets. Theology is to be lived as well as read."

See my answer to Francis in the 3rd to last post of mine in:  https://community.logos.com/forums/t/174070.aspx?PageIndex=8

Denise said:

I'm a literalist (the text). WYSIWYG. For example, the text as a whole discusses the Holy Spirit but doesn't claim to be from the Holy Spirit

I try to be a literalist too where it applies. I do understand that the context of the Holy Spirit is special because is not bound by culture, era, ethnicity, time, historical or other particular.

I do believe the Holy Spirit was behind some of the more important information directly, and much (if not all) of the Scripture (not the spurious parts of course) indirectly.

2 Peter 1:21

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 

I do respect other believers views, I may not always agree with some.

Denise, seems to me that your mind works very different to that of other "trained" believers, you seem to be less of a "parakeet believer", using more critical thinking, and to a good measure illumination of the Holy Spirit.

Have you thought of writing a book, or making a mobile ed type course? Just curious.

So that you know a little more about my general view: My line of work is practical, but we have to rely on good theory.  Modern medicine is also an example: very good theory, then trying to apply that to the real deal: surgery, treatment, etc.

Not long ago, Christianity was like that: ministers and preachers were also very good theologians. Eventually the specialization drive split that.

Some one said that there is nothing more practical than a good theory. I like systematics because I tend to think diachronically, taking the whole counsel of God about a topic to get the different angles involved.

But then I know that is not the end of the story, practical ministry application must follow.

Blessings.

DanC said:

Mark Smith said:

Baptist: Systematic Theology, James Leo Garrett

I would also like to see Garrett along with A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity Volumes 1-3 by Rolland McCune added to the Systematic Theology list of books.

Thank you Denise, and I thought the software was something like Bible Analyzer, LOL.

If I am not mistaken, VUE did some visualization work in that line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Understanding_Environment

kind regards.