Condensed theology.

[MoreCoffee]

Reader's digest used to produce condensed editions of classic works of literature and also condensed editions of popular works of the day which led me to think what would a Reader's Digest condensed edition of a Systematic Theology look like? What would the "essentials" of Christian faith condensed down to their most succinct form contain?

 

[Josiah]

Reader's digest used to produce condensed editions of classic works of literature and also condensed editions of popular works of the day which led me to think what would a Reader's Digest condensed edition of a Systematic Theology look like? What would the "essentials" of Christian faith condensed down to their most succinct form contain?

Nicene Creed

 

[MoreCoffee]

Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is infallible truth but it is not systematic theology nor a condensed version of a systematic theology. It is a baptismal creed with special emphasis on the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit because of the heresy of Arianism that was abroad in the world around 325 AD onward. Even today there are Arian teachers in the world seeking to make disciples going from door to door in their effort to make a convert. Like the Pharisees of old they "compass land and sea to make a convert and when they have made one they make him twice as much a son of hell as they are themselves". So it is good to mention the creed but it is a mistake to think it is a systematic theology.

 

[Arsenios]

Reader's digest used to produce condensed editions of classic works of literature and also condensed editions of popular works of the day which led me to think what would a Reader's Digest condensed edition of a Systematic Theology look like? What would the "essentials" of Christian faith condensed down to their most succinct form contain?

Well, the Latins have the College of Cardinals, and the Protestants have the Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanigraaf - (Well, they had him anyway) - And there have been several Orthodox catechisms written... But I do not think that there has ever been any (dare I say Germanic?) Orthodox attempts to present a SYSTEMATIC Theology, because for us, that would be seen as a denigration of the Faith, an attempt to present it as a system of ideas...

Aquinas tried it, and after a very successful life of its formulations,
then had one encounter with God in his cell and reclused himself,
saying "ALL that I have written is straw..."

otoh - A Cliff Notes version of comparative Christian theologies might prove something-I-know-not-what, I say!


Arsenios

 

[MoreCoffee]

Well, the Latins have the College of Cardinals, and the Protestants have the Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanigraaf - (Well, they had him anyway) - And there have been several Orthodox catechisms written... But I do not think that there has ever been any (dare I say Germanic?) Orthodox attempts to present a SYSTEMATIC Theology, because for us, that would be seen as a denigration of the Faith, an attempt to present it as a system of ideas...

Aquinas tried it, and after a very successful life of its formulations,
then had one encounter with God in his cell and reclused himself,
saying "ALL that I have written is straw..."

otoh - A Cliff Notes version of comparative Christian theologies might prove something-I-know-not-what, I say!


Arsenios

To the best of my knowledge there is no Catholic systematic theology. The Catechism is really an elaboration on the Apostles' creed. It is intended for baptismal preparation. But it does cover a good amount of theology and hence is used to answer numerous questions raised by interested people and not-very-interested people too

 

[MennoSota]

The Nicene Creed is infallible truth

Wait,what!?

 

[Andrew]

Wait,what!?

Yes Patrick It's true Patrick
-yeah get with the program Patrick

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes Patrick It's true Patrick
-yeah get with the program Patrick

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk

Truth Patrick!

Tell that other Patrick to get with it!