What Does Theology Mean
We explain what theology is and what are the branches of study of this science. Also, great theologians and theological documents.
What is theology?
Theology is the study or reasoning of God . It is a science that is responsible for studying the set of knowledge related to the divine, to God. The word theology was used for the first time by Plato, in The Republic.
The word theology is derived from theos , the Greek word for God; and logos , which translates as the study of . Therefore, the meaning of theology could broadly refer to the study of God.
The term or concept of theology encompasses everything that is related to divine or God's knowledge . And there is a record of its use in Plato's Republic, who used it to describe the rational understanding of the divine nature. But it was not until the times of Aristotle, when this term was a little more specific and with this diversified the occasions to use the concept of theology.
He used theology to name the mythological thought of thinkers, before the birth of Philosophy . This name was ironic and pejorative. But then the word theology was used as a way of naming the most important branch of Philosophy , which would later be called Metaphysics .
Saint Augustine was inspired by Marco Terencio Varrón to use the term natural theology as the true one and began the study of it, ending up writing La Suma Theológica, for example, which was a great document of the time to understand religions .
See also: Atheism
Catholic theology
This type of theology is developed within Christian churches that are called Catholic. It is used to study the relationship between God and Man , based on the Holy Scriptures, traditions and the Magisterium.
One of the outstanding characteristics of Catholic theology is its level of systematization and the issues addressed by it describe the need to renew the image of the Church as a place where Christ himself is present.
What is said, in simple words, propose what thousands of theological researchers were in charge of exposing for years: the Church as a community of salvation and in contact with God , not as an institution that alienates beings from the Land of God.
Branches of Catholic theology
- Fundamental theology. Discipline that is responsible for the investigation and teaching of theology proper.
- Dogmatic theology. It is in charge of studying the dogmas , that is, the theoretical truths of the Christian faith. It emphasizes the importance of the proposal that is above sensory perceptions , speaking of faith.
- Spiritual theology. Its object is spiritual life, holiness and the knowledge of the faith through the testimonies given by the spiritual experience of the Saints. It uses, first of all, the Holy Scriptures, which are considered to be written with the data that God wanted men to observe, as well as prayers and prayers through which to reach God. It also uses, secondly, tradition and interpreters - the Magisterium - who are charged with discovering the meanings of the Scriptures. And finally, to investigate the writings that some Saints have left on earth, as testimonies of their investigations and spiritual encounters with God.
- Pastoral theology. It is in charge of reflecting on the communication between the Church as an institution and the rest of the men and faithful that comprise it. This is done through the preaching of divine truths and constant catechesis. It is also in charge, through the sacraments and pastoral activities, of acting in the daily life of the faithful. Specifically, it reflects on awakening to faith and being constantly formed; the sacramental life and the Liturgy; spiritual care for the faithful, as well as paying special attention to people with particular needs, such as the sick, the elderly, addicts and the marginalized. Take special care of the missionary dimension and the call to mission for human rights , thepeace and social justice . Within pastoral theology, there is the branch in charge of studying and carrying out missionary preaching, a resource that Christ himself used to address the two types of audiences he had in his time and that continues to this day. today as a way of addressing the two types of audiences that exist today.
One is destined for the new people, more incredulous and not yet within the Christian faith; and another, towards the congregation or faithful people, which is the one that is already within the ranks of the believing people. This is what leads us to name another of the sub-branches of pastoral theology, in which some general principles of rhetoric-art and science of public speaking are applied-, that is, the proclamation of the Holy Scriptures , generally the task of priests and pastors, in Sunday sermons and homilies, is Homiletics.
The study of religious sermons and discourses, with their composition and content, is the main object of study in this branch of theology. In turn, within homiletics, differences can be noted between evangelical homiletics and Catholic hemiletics, which are based, for example, on the solemn nature of the proclamation -or homily proper- within the Catholic Church, in which only Priests or those authorized - permanent deacons, for example - to deliver the sermons during Mass may do so. On the other hand, in the Evangelical Church, preaching can be in charge of both the Pastor and any other member of the congregation, without the need to be consecrated to carry out this task.
Great theologians
At present there are many documents that speak of theology and that explain for sure what are the foundations of science and its research methods . Much time invested, many hours of research, prayer and spiritual life in the service of explaining the faith and everything that makes it up.
Some of its most famous authors and of whom we can still obtain copies of their research are: Alberto Magno, San Agustín de Hipona, Santo Tomás de Aquino, Juan Crisóstomo, Jerónimo de Estridón, San Francisco de Sales, Gregorio Magno and a very close one to our times, Joseph Ratzinger, that is, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Theological documents
As a very important theological document in the public domain to be cited and consulted by all within Catholicism, we find the CCE, Cathechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae or Catechism of the Catholic Church , which exposes, carefully and in detail, the Catholic ecclesiastical doctrine illuminated by the Sacred Scriptures, the Tradition of the Apostles and the ecclesiastical Magisterium, formed by the Pope - the highest authority of the Catholic Church - and the bishops in communion with him.
The writing of this Catechism was the result, along with other very important documents, of the renewal of the Catholic Church that began with the Second Vatican Council and which became reference texts on the Church and very significant for its history. And bishops experts in Theology and Catechesis were summoned to write , in order to reinforce the knowledge of the bishops participating in the Council.
In turn, in the drafting of this Catechism - which took approximately six years to complete - all the members of the Second Vatican Council participated and had the collaboration of the entire Episcopate, at the service of sharing the faith with all the people that make up the Church.