We explain what theology is and what the branches of study of this science are. 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 comes from theosthe Greek word that describes God; and logoswhich 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 knowledge or God. And there is a record of its use in Plato's Republic, who used it to describe the rational understanding of divine nature. But it was not until the time of Aristotle, when this term was a little more specific and with this diversified the occasions to use the concept of theology.
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 to name the most important branch of Philosophy, which would later be called Metaphysics.
Saint Augustine was inspired by Marcus Terence Varro to use the term natural theology as the true one and began studying it, ending up writing The Summa Theologica, for example, which was a great document of the time for understanding religions.
See also: Atheism
Catholic theology
This type of theology is developed within the 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 topics 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, is to propose what thousands of theological researchers have been in charge of exposing for years: the Church as a community of salvation and in contact with God not as an institution that distances beings from the Earth of God.
Branches of Catholic theology
- Fundamental theology. Discipline that is responsible for the research and teaching of theology itself.
- dogmatic theology It is responsible for studying 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 objective is spiritual life, holiness and knowledge of faith through the testimonies provided 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 to let men observe, as well as prayers and prayers through which to reach God. It also uses, secondly, tradition and interpreters -the Magisterium-, in charge of discovering the meanings of the Scriptures. And finally, investigate the writings that some Saints have left on earth, as testimonies of their investigations and spiritual encounters with God.
- Pastoral theology It is responsible for reflecting on the communication between the Church as an institution and the rest of the men and faithful that make it up. This is done through the preaching of divine truths and constant catechesis. It is also responsible, through the sacraments and pastoral activities, for acting in the daily lives of the faithful. Specifically, it reflects on awakening to faith and being constantly formed; 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, elderly, addicts and marginalized. It takes special care of the missionary dimension and the call to mission in pursuit of human rights, peace and social justice.
Within pastoral theology, there is the branch in charge of studying and carry out missionary preaching, resource that Christ himself used to address the two types of audiences he had in his time and that continues to this day as a way of addressing the two types of audiences that exist today.
One is aimed at the new people, more incredulous and not yet within the Christian faith; and another, towards the congregation or faithful people, which is those who are 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 – the 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 speeches, with their composition and content, is the main object of study of this branch of theology. At the same time, within homiletics, differences can be pointed out between the evangelical homiletics and Catholic hemiletics, which are based, for example, on the solemn nature of the proclamation – or homily itself – within the Catholic Church, in which only priests or those authorized – permanent deacons, for example – to give sermons within the Mass can do so. On the other hand, in the Evangelical Church, preaching can be carried out by both the Pastor and any other member of the congregation, without the need to be consecrated to carry out this task.
Great theologians
Currently There are many documents that talk about theology and that explain with certainty what the foundations of science and its research methods are. A lot of time invested, many hours of research, prayers and spiritual life in the service of explaining the faith and everything that makes it up.
Some of its most famous authors and from whom we can still obtain copies of their research are: Albert the Great, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Thomas Aquinas, John Chrysostom, Jerome of Estridon, Saint Francis de Sales, Gregory the Great and one very close 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 everyone within Catholicism, we find the CCE, Cathechismus Catholicae Ecclesiae either Catechism of the Catholic Church which carefully and in detail exposes the Catholic ecclesiastical doctrine illuminated by the Holy 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 for the writing in order to reinforce the knowledge of the bishops participating in the Council.
In turn, in the writing of this Catechism – which took approximately six years to complete – all the members of the Second Vatican Council participated and there was the collaboration of the entire Episcopate, in the service of sharing the faith with all the people that make up the Church.
