New Feature: Systematic Theologies Interactive (interactive)

Jacob Cerone
Jacob Cerone Member, Logos Employee Posts: 293
edited November 20 in English Forum

What is it?

Systematic theologians bring the entire biblical testimony to bear on specific, interrelated theological topics. The Systematic Theologies interactive curates data on both systematic theology resources and their authors, helping you become more informed about the content of the systematic theologies and how the backgrounds of the theologians shaped their works.

How does it work?

Open this interactive by going to the tools menu, opening all interactives, and clicking to open the Systematic Theologies Interactive. You can filter this interactive by author, denomination, era, and type. Click on a resource to expand it and find out more about it and the author.

Where can I learn more?

Comments

  • mike
    mike Member Posts: 2,097 ✭✭✭

    I feel like the interactive is missing the TOPIC tab on the left side.

    Otherwise its just another basic "collection" of systematic theology with general information telling us to buy the locked resources. [:#]

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,798

    mike said:

    I feel like the interactive is missing the TOPIC tab on the left side.

    Wouldn't that be nice?

    mike said:

    Otherwise its just another basic "collection" of systematic theology with general information telling us to buy the locked resources.

    I think this helps answer what have been recurring questions about specific theologians and theologies. It's not a biggie (without the topic section at least) but could help many who aren't sure who's who.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,798

    BTW, Mike, why not make that as a separate suggestion in the Suggestions Forum? It might get a bit more exposure that way.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • John Fidel
    John Fidel MVP Posts: 3,387

    On version 6.9 for Mac with Logos Now annual subscription and this interactive is not showing up as well as the other new interactive. I have a total of 30 interactive tools with L6 Platinum and Logos Now. Please advise.

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,514

    On version 6.9 for Mac with Logos Now annual subscription and this interactive is not showing up as well as the other new interactive. I have a total of 30 interactive tools with L6 Platinum and Logos Now. Please advise.

    With 6.9 on OS 10.11.3, I have 32 Interactives—including the Systematic Theology one. Perhaps you need Update Now/Resources.

  • PL
    PL Member Posts: 2,134 ✭✭✭

    Indeed, mike! 

    I have a Portfolio library and yet the majority of the systematic theologies listed are locked!

    There should be a filter to display only resources we own.

    Peter

  • Bruce Dunning
    Bruce Dunning MVP Posts: 11,143

    PL said:

    There should be a filter to display only resources we own.

    Yes. [Y]

    Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God

  • Steve Farson
    Steve Farson Member Posts: 341

    mike said:

    I feel like the interactive is missing the TOPIC tab on the left side.

    Otherwise its just another basic "collection" of systematic theology with general information telling us to buy the locked resources. Zip it!

    Yes... There needs to be a way to link theological topics to theological books.

  • Phil Gons (Logos)
    Phil Gons (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 3,799

    This was an early v1. There are several additional facets and improvements planned for v2 and maybe a v3. We decided to get it out to door and let you give feedback on what you'd like to see us do to improve it instead of sitting on it.

    Thanks for all the feedback.

  • David J. Wilson
    David J. Wilson Member Posts: 221 ✭✭

    Just wondering about the way titles within a series are sorted:
    (not an issue for many denominations as most are single volume or single resource containing all volumes)

    Under denomination: Anglican, both series by Francis J. Hall

    • Dogmatic Theology is sequenced, Vol.3, Vol.1, Vol.2, Vol.4 then as expected to Vol.10
    • Theological Outlines is also sequenced, Vol.3, Vol.1, Vol.2

    Under denomination: Modern Catholic: sequence is alphabetical rather than per volume ID

    • Explorations in Theology: Hans Urs von Balthasar is sequenced III, IV, II, I
    • Others are sequenced correctly as Vol 1 then Vol 2

    Under denomination: Methodist/Wesleyan:

    • Systematic Theology by Thomas Oden is sequenced alphabetically Volume Three, Volume One, Volume Two
    • Systematic Theology by Miner Raymond is sequenced Volume II, Volume III, Volume I

    Under Nondenominational:

    • Integrative Theology by Lewis Gordon: Each Volume (1, 2 and 3) is listed as a separate resource rather than part of a set/series
    • Systematic Theology by Norman Geisler is sequenced Volume Four, Volume One, Volume Three, Volume Two
    • Understanding Theology by R.T. Kendall is sequenced as Volume One, Volume Three, Volume Two

    Under denomination Baptist:

    • A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity by Roland McCune is sequenced correctly as Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3

    Under denomination Reformed:

    • Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Bavinck is sequenced Volume 3, Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 4
    • Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics (which is missing the second Reformed from the title) by Richard Muller
      is sequenced correctly as Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4
    • The Decades of Henry Bullinger are sequenced Fifth, First and Second, Fourth, Third
    • Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth: amazingly the various volumes and Parts of volumes are sequenced correctly !!

    Under denomination Presbyterian:

    • Everyone's a Theologian by R.C. Sproul: Presbyterian or Reformed ?
    • Systematic Theology in Two Volumes by Rouas Rushdoony is sequenced Volume II then Volume I

    I may have missed a few as I often need help being "systematic"; however that apparent lack of any consistency in systematic sequencing of the volumes in various series is not helping me as much as it could.

    [:^)]

  • Sean
    Sean Member Posts: 1,774 ✭✭✭

    On version 6.9 for Mac with Logos Now annual subscription and this interactive is not showing up as well as the other new interactive. I have a total of 30 interactive tools with L6 Platinum and Logos Now. Please advise.

    Same here, except Windows with Logos Now and L6 Reformed Gold.

    I've had two updates come through since this was released but it's not showing up.

    ETA: "Update Now" did nothing, but "Update Resources" found this & whatever other one was also missing to bring the total up to 32.

    It should not have been necessary to do this.

  • Sean
    Sean Member Posts: 1,774 ✭✭✭

    This was an early v1. There are several additional facets and improvements planned for v2 and maybe a v3. We decided to get it out to door and let you give feedback on what you'd like to see us do to improve it instead of sitting on it.

    Thanks for all the feedback.

    After playing with this for a few minutes, these are my initial thoughts:

    1. I like this very much as a way of organizing my systematics. At this point I've got so many I can't keep track of or even remember all of them. And it's much easier than tagging them myself.
    2. I agree with the repeated suggestion of having a way to filter out works I don't own. That said, I'm also glad that it does show them; I've become aware of a few works that I didn't know were available in Logos. But the default should be only for works I own.
    3. After selecting a category, the initial view should show more than just a tiny thumbnail and the title of the work. Seeing five books in a row simply titled "Systematic Theology" is not particularly useful. The author's name could be shown on the same line as the title even before clicking the expander button.

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,408

    Sean said:

    But the default should be only for works I own.

    I disagree on two grounds:

    1. Personal preference - I would never switch to those I own only except for sample screen shots (okay a very weak argument)
    2. If the default is those one owns, users might never discover that they could get a fuller list; however, if they see the full list and explicitly filter it they are more apt to remember that it is an option.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Sean
    Sean Member Posts: 1,774 ✭✭✭

    MJ. Smith said:

    Sean said:

    But the default should be only for works I own.

    I disagree on two grounds:

    1. Personal preference - I would never switch to those I own only except for sample screen shots (okay a very weak argument)
    2. If the default is those one owns, users might never discover that they could get a fuller list; however, if they see the full list and explicitly filter it they are more apt to remember that it is an option.

    "Default" may be the wrong word. Perhaps a toggle choice that persists, like a visual filter, until you select it again? (I just wouldn't want to have to do it every time I open the interactive.)

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,408

    Yes, I agree it should be "sticky" ...[;)] lingo will get us every time.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Whyndell Grizzard
    Whyndell Grizzard Member Posts: 3,499 ✭✭✭

    Since this is essentially a "collection" I would like the ability to search it- hoping this is what was getting at with the "topic" suggestion.

  • John Fidel
    John Fidel MVP Posts: 3,387

    Since this is essentially a "collection" I would like the ability to search it- hoping this is what was getting at with the "topic" suggestion.

    The systematic theology resources are a "type" in your library. The following search should allow such a search. Note I limited my search to heading, large text and title to get more of a "topic" search for grace. I use a "quick collection" by typing: type:systematic in the resource drop down box:

  • PEW
    PEW Member Posts: 56 ✭✭

    I have the same problem. I emailed logos yesterday and I am still waiting to hear back from them.  (LOGOS GOLD )

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭

    MJ. Smith said:

    Sean said:

    But the default should be only for works I own.

    I disagree on two grounds:

    1. Personal preference - I would never switch to those I own only except for sample screen shots (okay a very weak argument)
    2. If the default is those one owns, users might never discover that they could get a fuller list; however, if they see the full list and explicitly filter it they are more apt to remember that it is an option.

    I agree with MJ by default it should show all information in the data set and locked/unlocked should be one of the filter options on the left hand side filter panel. The end user should always be in control of the filtering process.

    The fact that it shows resources I don't currently have a license to use does not make this simply a marketing tool.  In fact find it very helpful to have unlocked resources included. If I am thinking about purchasing another systematic theology I can use this tool to quickly check on the 'denominational' background and Era of the resource.

    I agree it would be great if in the future it gave us the ability to drill down into topics covered in each resource / volume which would make having data on unlocked resources even more valuable when it came to review before purchasing.

    As Phil has said this is version 1 of this interactive and we are subscribed to a service that gives us early access to tools and datasets that are not being presented to us as the polished final product, I think there is great potential in interactive likes this that allow us to drill down into our resources outside of the library and search panels with a somewhat more visual approach. Users who are less confident in writing filter commands for the library panel in particular will find this approach very helpful.  

    Phil pass on my thanks to those responsible for pulling this together.  Look forward to seeing future versions of this and maybe similar interactive for biblical theologies, commentaries, encyclopedias/dictionaries, grammars etc. [:P]

  • Nathan Parker
    Nathan Parker Member Posts: 1,755

    If I want to unlock the rest of the titles I don't have, would the Systematic Theology collection be the quickest way to do this?

    Thanks! 

    Nathan Parker

    Visit my blog at http://focusingonthemarkministries.com

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭

    Might be interesting to see also if the theologian is Dutch, German, French, English, American, Italian etc.

  • Angela Murashov
    Angela Murashov Member Posts: 1,532

    however that apparent lack of any consistency in systematic sequencing of the volumes in various series is not helping me as much as it could.

    Thanks for reporting this issue. We have created a case to get this fixed!  [:)]

  • mike
    mike Member Posts: 2,097 ✭✭✭

     There are several additional facets and improvements planned for v2 and maybe a v3. We decided to get it out to door and let you give feedback on what you'd like to see us do to improve it instead of sitting on it.

    Any idea when v.2 going to come out? This is good stuff

  • Angela Murashov
    Angela Murashov Member Posts: 1,532

    however that apparent lack of any consistency in systematic sequencing of the volumes in various series is not helping me as much as it could.

    Thanks for reporting this issue. We have created a case to get this fixed!  Smile

    This should be fixed in 6.10.

  • Everett Headley
    Everett Headley Member Posts: 951

    This is the most intriguing element of Logos Now to me.  However, it must have a topic guide to make its maximum impact.  When might we expect an upgrade like this?

  • James Taylor
    James Taylor Member Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭

    When might we expect an upgrade like this?

    My fingers are crossed that this is a Logos 7 surprise feature

    Logos 10  | Dell Inspiron 7373 | Windows 11 Pro 64, i7, 16GB, SSD | iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Mattillo
    Mattillo Member Posts: 6,116 ✭✭✭

    Biblical Doctrine by John MacArthur needs to be added to this interactive