This is the next installment of things I've learned while doing the Theology Program.

Categories of Theology:

There a a number of cateogries of theology. Each category has its strengths, and it own way at looking at theology. Its helpful to come at a theological question through the lenses of severale categories. Each way of looking at things sheds a different light on the question.
Here are the categories:

1. Systematic

2. Biblical

3. Historical

4. Philosophical

There are many ways to understand Theology and many definitions. Basically Theology boils down to the idea of God. Using this definition everyone has some form of theology be it Theistic in nature, Atheistic, Secular, Agnostic, or otherwise.

The goal of the course "is not so much to teach good theology, as important as that is, but to teach people to think."

There are several way of looking at Theology:
Irenic Theology:
* Theology that is done peaceably, accurately representing all views, even when you oppose them. (the main way this course looks at theology)
Polemic Theology:

Over the last three months or so, my Church homegroup has been slowly working our way through a series called "The Theology Program" http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=28 which is from Bible.org. The program was suggested to us by one of the members of the Manawatu apologetics society http://manawatu.christian-apologetics.org. The program is a series of videos by two well educated christian men who seek to teach theology is a balanced, realistic way. This series of blog posts outlines the course and some of its basic teachings.