2. Introduction to Theological Studies Prof. Felix Just, S.J. What Is Theology? (revised Jan. 27, 2005)

3. Theology < Greek Theos + Logos 4 Theos = “God” –not a personal name, but a generic title for the divine being –“God” vs. “gods” (more on this below) 4 Logos = “Word; Phrase; Speech; Reason” –Not just a single w-o-r-d, but any language-based thought –“Talking about…” ; “Study of…” Anthropo -logy = “Study of Humans”; Bio -logy = “Study of Life” Geo -logy = “Study of the Earth”; Zoo -logy = “Study of Animals” 4 Theology = “Study of God”; “Talking about God” –God’s being, essence, nature, and/or attributes –God’s relation to human beings and the whole world

4. Philosophy < Greek Philos + Sophia 4 Philos = “Love; Friendship” –Four Greek words for “love”: eros, philos, agape, storge –Philadelphia = lit. “Love of Brothers” (“City of Brotherly Love”) –Philanthropy = lit. “Love of Human Beings” (i.e. Charity) 4 Sophia = “Wisdom” –Wisdom vs. intelligence vs. knowledge vs. understanding 4 Philosophy = “Love of Wisdom” –Socratic Method: asking questions! –Not just reading books, but dialogue between persons –About what? Everything! Including “God”?

5. Love of Wisdom / Talking about God Quest for Knowledge / Search for Truth 4 Ancient World: –Classical Greece: Philosophers –Ancient Israel: Prophets & Priests –Other Cultures: Magi, Physicians, Kings, etc. –No separately specialized “ Theologians ” 4 Medieval Universities: –Four Disciplines: Philosophy, Theology, Medicine, Law 4 Modern Universities: –Liberal Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Arts, Business, Education, Religious Studies…

6. Types of Belief in God(s) – lots of “-isms” 4 Theism 4 Atheism 4 Agnosticism 4 Gnosticism, Polytheism 4 Pantheism, Deism 4 Henotheism, Monotheism 4 Paganism, etc.

7. Types of Belief in God (I) 4 Theism –Belief in the existence of a God or any gods –The generic term, of which other –isms are subcategories 4 Atheism –The opposite: Belief that God and/or gods do “ not exist ” 4 Agnosticism –“ Not knowing ” whether God exists; overall non-belief 4 Gnosticism –A religious system that believes salvation comes through “knowledge” (Gk. gnosis ) of one’s divine origin and destiny

8. Types of Belief in God (II) 4 Polytheism –Belief in the existence of “many” (Gk. poly ) gods Egyptian: many gods, mostly in animal form Greek & Roman: a large family of gods, on Mount Olympus 4 Pantheism –Belief that divinity resides “everywhere” (Gk. pan ) The whole universe is divine; divinity is within everything that exists But there is no “God” separate from or external to the world 4 Deism –Belief that God created the world, but then abandoned it God exists, created us, but exerts no further influence on the world Based on 18 th -century rationalism (e.g. Thomas Jefferson)

9. Types of Belief in God (III) 4 Henotheism –Allegiance to “one” god over the others All nations have their own “gods”; “Our god is better than your gods” 4 Monotheism –Belief in the existence of “only” one God What others call “gods” are at most spirits, but not divine –Christians believe in one God, but Jesus & Spirit also divine “Trinity” = one divine “nature,” three divine “persons” (not 3 diff. gods) 4 Paganism –Religions of “others” who don’t believe in “our” God/gods Popular connotations negative: pagans, heathens, unbelievers Academic meaning neutral: all non-Jewish, non-Christian religions

10. Identifying God (Titles & Names) : 4 Generic Titles: –God / god, Deity, Divine Power, El, Elohim, etc. –Father, Mother, Creator, Lord, King, etc. 4 Proper Names: –Jewish: YHWH (Yahweh? Jehovah?); Ya/Ja –Mesopotamian: Asherah, Baal; Ishtar, Marduk, Tiamat, etc. –Egyptian: Aten, Horus, Isis, Osiris, Ra, Seth, Thoth, etc. –Greco-Roman / Olympian: Zeus=Jupiter; Athena=Diana; etc. –Muslim: Allah

11. Talking about God (Philosophically) : 4 God is Absolute (positive & negative) : –ALL: omnipotent (all powerful); omniscient (all knowing); omnipresent (everywhere); omni-benevolent (all merciful) –NOT: invisible (not seen); immutable (unchanging); immortal (not dying); infinite (not limited); etc. 4 Language is Limited (analogies & opposites) : –God is transcendent (beyond) & immanent (internal) –So God-talk is possible, but always analogical / inadequate –Both/and Approach: via positiva & via negativa

12. Summary / Review 4 Philosophy & Theology – Philosophy < Greek Philos + Sophia – Theology < Greek Theos + Logos 4 Types of Belief in God (“-isms”) –Theism vs. Atheism vs. Agnosticism –Deism vs. Pantheism vs. Polytheism –Henotheism vs. Monotheism (incl. Trinitarian Christianity) 4 Talking about God –Generic Titles vs. Proper Names –Analogical Language: absolutes & opposites