UU ecclesiology, soteriology, missiology, eschatology, and pneumatology
Some people are wondering why I think that we need trained people to discuss what UU theology is, can be, or should be. Steve Caldwell indirectly answers my question by using the words in the Title of this posting.Wow. Just one more reason why I am so very unqualified to discuss this topic. (Soteriology, btw, is the study of salvation.)
posted by Paul Wilczynski @ 4:08 PM
1 Comments:
Well ... I don't have an M.Div. or other advanced degrees in theology, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Seriously, much of this theology is accessible to the layperson (which is what I am). I'm not a professional theologian. I'm a mostly non-professional religious educator, youth advisor, parent of two adolescents, and lifespan Our Whole Lives curriculum trainer. There is very little that I've read or participated in that isn't accessible to other laypersons.
The wikipedia theology term links will take you to some clearly written background material. For example, the "ecclesiology" link would take you to page where you would find out that "ecclesiology" deals with the following questions:
** Who is the Church?
** Must one join a church? What is the role of corporate worship in the spiritual lives of believers? Is it in fact necessary?
** What is the authority of the Christian church? Is the institution itself, either in a single corporate body, or generally, an independent vehicle of revelation or of God's grace?
*** What does the Church do? Is the Church's rôle primarily the performance of sacraments for the spiritual growth of believers? Or is the Church's chief duty to preach and teach the Gospel?
** How should the Church be governed? What are the proper methods of choosing clergy such as bishops and priests? Is an ordained clergy necessary?
** What are the roles of spiritual gifts in the life of the church?
** How does the Church relate to the covenants expressed in scripture to God's chosen people?
** What is the ultimate destiny of the Church in Christian eschatology?
So ... I think that an educated layperson could participate in a discussion on these questions and other questions related to UU theology.
The wikipedia links would make a great introduction for anyone interested in "looking under the hood" of this theological vehicle that we are driving (if you don't mind the metaphor). Some folks will want to look under the hood and find out how everything works. And some folks don't care as long as the vehicle gets them to their destination.
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