Theology- the science of listening
Theology- the study of God- aided- advanced, and based on God
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Colossians 1:9) NIV (protestant- not catholic) bible
Catholic theology
As God is almighty- and greater than us- we understand- that what he knows is greater than anything else. He has the power to show himself to us or not. Catholic theology is often critisized for it’s listening approach- whereby it bases itself largely- if not solely on revelation and logic in relation to such. In all honesty- however- this is the only logical method- we can’t interview God- we have to plead for an answer- and if needed- wait and listen to it. Theology thereby only covers what God desires us to know about him. It is not so much our efforts- as his.
Extent of revelation
As tradition (the unaltering interpretation of the message of God by the early- to modern church (”hold the message you heard from the begining”)) is required to interpret the scriptures- with God’s help- the church largely studies the early writings when interpreting verses in context of the times and context of the original writing. Private revelation- especially in clarifying such is also useful. God speaks via nature, via society, via systems and rules he allowed into being, and via scripture and our fellow men’s language and actions. Theology is not a realm for personal interpretation. It is not an art, but a science- it studies reality- thereby the piles of documents used by the church- are quite vital, as well as the guidance God gives the pope and magisterium- especially in the Ecunumical councils (see acts 15). Theology pertains eternal truths, and rests on the solid foundation of Papal infallibility. Whithout such- the word would be subject to any personal interpretation, and to the whims of every foundation. “The church is the pillar and foundation of the truth” ( one of St. Paul’s Epistles) and only from this foundation- from the very body of God’s son- can we venture into the dangerous realm of theology.
Theology is constant- it cannot be based on personal views
Newness, or novelty- is the food of heresy, such is not the aim of love which is truth. Orthodoxy and consistency is the aim of any loyal theologian. He furthers this with building on firm foundations, set by all before him- clarifying the known truths that have not altered in all eternity, as well as those which are traced back to the begining and to Jesus- yet outside of time- are also eternal. Theology must be done within the meaning and confines of the church. The Catholic encyclopedia has at least 100 000 articles, the catechism also is large. This is a firm foundation, along with the councils and many other tools- for the furthering of theology. God himself teaches the Christian- via the truth of the church, which is his body, or sometimes via other revelation. Theology is not subject to whim, but rather to truth.
