Wednesday, 20th September, 2006

Session 1 - Methods of Theology?

Oh boy, what sort of theologian am I. Am I absolute? Definitely not, but that is about as far as I can currently define. I have been off work today with flu, I have wanted to sit down and write but all I have done is sleep and wallow in self pity about my own aches and pains.

I had been trying to define the following definitions of Knowledge.
Absolute, Transitional, Independent, Contextual.

I didn't bring back the description sheet as we only had one between us, I am hoping one will be copied for me for next week.

What do they all mean? What is my reasoning? Where do my thoughts and reasoning start and finish, if indeed they ever do. I think that is clue to my definition, in that my thoughts never do finish. Whether it be Maths or English, Theology or Science I never stop reasoning.

Theology explores the building bricks of my faith, exercising my beliefs by reflecting in them with God, sharing my faith with others keeps it true.

I have a keen interest in science, but I find more truths, more acceptable answers for the big questions like “Creation” and “Purpose for Life” from within my faith and my relationship with God.

Even in science there is no absolute, scientists find there is not enough mass in the universe to account for it's acceleration. So scientists theory an answer "Dark Matter". Big bang no big bang, there is no absolute in science any more than there is absolute in maths. Mathematicians are currently arguing on the most efficient way to stack oranges! New Scientist Magazine “2006” http://www.newscientist.com

So is "Absolute" a scientific approach?

I think I will go to bed and read some of the Preliminary Readings I was supplied with. All I have managed to do so far is read the first section "Scripture as the source of Christian Theology", Introductory essay.