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 What is spiritual theology?
 
 12/3/2006 5:34:53 AM
User is offlinethomas
21 posts


What is spiritual theology?
 (United States)
In thinking more about this forum I thought I might be helpful to discuss what spiritual theology is. I have found Jordan Aumann's definition quite helpful and I believe well thought out. So, I thought I would offer his definition in an effort to spur further conversation about the role that spiritual theology plays in theology as a whole and in particular within the theological framework brougth forth by evangelical Christianity. Jordan Aumann: "More Spiritual Theology is that part of theology that, proceeding from the truths of divine revelation and the religious experience of individual persons, defines the nature of the supernaturla life, formulates directives for its growth and devleopment, and explains the process by which souls advance from teh beginning of the spiritual life to its full perfection." hopefully, this will give us something to use in exploring the value and validity of spiritual theology. What does it mean to look to individual experiences in doing theology? What kinds of directives for growth would we be talking about? These are just a few questions that arise for me as I read this, how about you all?
 12/24/2006 9:34:26 PM
User is offlineaphekah
16 posts


Re: What is spiritual theology?
 (United States)
Thomas, I think that this is a great topic. In order to do spiritual theology as Protestants, I think there are several questions we have to address. Some of these questions should probably be: What doctrines affect the task of spiritual theology from an epistemological standpoint - this can include depravity, sovereignty, Christology, pneumatology, etc. There are also important issues to discuss in light of spiritual theology as a whole. What does it mean to "do" spiritual theology? What are the aspects that inform our understanding of the spiritual life, and what does it mean to discern those? What is the appropriate place to do spiritual theology? The Church? The academy? I think this is a fruitful interaction that needs to take place. At this point, the most important considerations might be the questions that need to be raised. Lets keep raising them!
 3/11/2007 4:26:03 AM
User is offlinethomas
21 posts


Re: What is spiritual theology?
 (United States) Modified By thomas  on 3/10/2007 9:28:13 PM)
A part of the methodology of spiritual theology is the study of actual Christian experience. It seems that it is impossible to study the nature/dynamics of the spiritual life without taking note of and studying the experiencing of people who claim to be on this journey themselves. Thus, the questions that get raised are endless? What do most people experience when they pray? When people say they experience God's presence what do they mean? How do people experience noticable spiritual growth in their lives? These questions are simply a beginning of the many that can be asked of Christians who are opening their lives to the work of the Holy Spirit. My wonder is whether these kinds of questions are being asked within the church and whether they are being asked within the academic world. My hunch is that within the church perhaps some of these questions are not raised as questions but simply basis for opinions and beliefs about the spiritual ilfe. For example, a person interprets his/her prayer life in particular ways and thus assumes these interpretations are true not only of the way God works in their life but in others lives as well. I wonder whether this is actual a dangerous element of spiritual theology, because it is skipping the question and moving straight to an answer. Within the academic world it appears that these questions are off limits at times because we would not want to do theology based on experience. Both of these ends of the spectrum seems concerning to me, I am wondering if any of you have any thoughts. What is the relationship between traditional theology predicated upon the exegesis and systematizing of the text and the interpretion of peoples actual experience particularly when it comes to the spiritual life?
 12/18/2008 2:34:07 PM
User is offlineAngel Of Evidence
8 posts


Re: What is spiritual theology?
 (N/A) Modified By Angel Of Evidence  on 12/18/2008 7:36:49 AM)

Spiritual Theology is the basis of backing up the prudent relevance to God, this is the same as backing up a defense you adore, nobody who listens to Theology does excite without the convenience being risen from simplifying over simplifying the more and more to the terms of making the purposes of doctrine all too relevant for common life and to life that needs be met.

Spiritual Theology is the providing that the word of God exists, the exercise of it helps organize the battle ground and chisel for experimenting the basics of fundamental prosperity in common sense to be made relevant in orthodox Christian attentions by forming a part of living with vigor the simple attendings God asks for us.

Spiritual Theology is real when it is indicated as human sake demand.

Spiritual Theology is made by man, this is a part of reasoning that explores the solemnity of contesting wrongs and edifying rights.

People who are prudent have better theology.

Theology is for our common era as an emergent spirituality, Theology suffers being ignored for being fable due to it's preacher's long jotted words and spasm of decree that seems impossible to follow and should be made simplified in order for the common sense people to regain interest in Theology.

Theology is a war to the devil, when waring the devil we are the ones who are supposed to have authority to exclaim what purposes should be dealt because the devil grinches that Theology is lame and we should provoke this to being turned into that Theology is festivity and allurenes toward excited spiritualism and not tamed excuses.

Theology hurts those who do not understand the word of God. They who are not understanding the word of God think Theology is run by them who protest things that are neutral and ongoing with making understanding of basic pleas to giving in the ways of being normal, they deem Theologists obsessed with catering like do-do birds and not exactly paying attention to the rest of living hood, these people are them who are just trying to live by and are scared of certain things to life and are commoners in disbelief and are ensured by the world that excitement and thrill conquer prudence and hominy. These people need be taken by the hand and approached as Jesus approached them, He ate with them, no, He did not eat with them who are invalid toward respecting God but ate with common sinners, they who be invalid with respecting God are them who flow like vipers and announce that God is dead. God is alive because the energy forces God created are still intact and better is He who creates then what He has created. God is just resting above everything and already has leveled what is to be and come well indicated so the war is already won by our refuge God.

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