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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Theology for Dummies - Natural Theology

".. a branch of theology based on reason and ordinary experience." - Wikepedia.

Natural theology is best described as looking at the world around us and using what we know to come to conclusions about the divine. This is ultimately man looking at things and saying "this means God is X".

The value of natural theology in Christan circles has long been debated. The Scripture writers, particularly guys like David in the Psalms declare that the world proves there is a creator. Other writers point to other things. Theologians fall into many different camps from those who say natural theology is a key tool to those that reject it outright.

The basic problem is that all nature religions, polytheistic systems, animism, etc. all have as their base this understanding of looking at the world around us and drawing conclusions about the divine. The problem is natural theology is often in the eye of the beholder unless there is some other authority to guide it.

I have no problem with natural theology as a support to other kinds of theology, the problem is when it takes center stage you can go anywhere with it. That is its inherent weakness.

Next: Revealed Theology

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