Tammy’s Reviews > Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought > Status Update

Cracks in the foundation came when public agreement was elevated (theology from below). The French Revolution and older universities in Australia (strong secular assumptions) pushed out Christian theology of higher education. Today, secularism has morphed to pluralism because universities have religious centers that do not elevate one religion over another. Seminaries teach and research Christian theology.

Enlightenment thinkers viewed the creeds and articles of faith with suspicion as man-made. Kant violated CM's 20th principle when he said philosophy seeks truth, and theology, law, and medicine are more practical. Schleiermacher promoted the need for a well-educated clergy and three kinds of theology (philosophical-essence, historical-obvious, practical-church leadership and practice).

As universities sprung up, theology became more systematic. 12th and 13th century students studied the arts as the entry level path. After that were three branches: medicine, law, and theology. It changed from beliefs about God to general Christian beliefs, more expansive. It also become more theoretical and less practical. Some theologians were concerned about going from practicing and obedience to speculating.

Ch. 1 He defines theology like I do geometry! Meanings include the study of the Christian God and a distinction from mythology (pagan stories). Early Christians had to explain the one God was in light of the Old Testament. By the Middle Ages, polytheism had been so completely rejected and Christianity embraced that who God is needed no explanation. Theology became the analysis of God’s nature, activies, and purposes.

This reminds me of The Mystery of the Periodic Table because it takes you through the earliest understanding of Christian doctrine and how it was refined over time. He breaks history into four sensible eras and gives an overview of the history and places, key people and their ideas, debates over what is true, and case studies going into depth on critical ideas. Our church plans to study this book for two years.