Photo: Banff, July 2, courtesy Deeaann on Facebook
Edited from PhD
Twitter version I
Via Reformed tradition, I reason that revealed Scripture is the final authority for justifying a theological claim & therefore would see the empirical method’s evaluation of Biblical theology as secondary.
Inbody (1995: 215-216), referenced and responded to.
Twitter version II
I do not view empirical theology as primarily or singularly important in determining the truthfulness of a doctrine. I reason that Christian doctrine and practice must be grounded in revealed Scripture.
July 3, 2021
Within my Reformed, biblical, theological tradition, 'new theology' is not developed from the use of questionnaires, surveys and statistics used in empirical theology. Rather, theology, philosophy and worldviews can be reviewed and considered through the empirical responses.
In other words, for example, what people think about the trinity is not going to impact my trinitarian theology. Questionnaire results with surveys and statistical data 'might' impact my theological presentation of trinitarian doctrine. Based on my MPhil and PhD work, I would be orthodox in the sense of Reformed, Biblical theology, but am not likely an orthodox adherent of any form of empirical theology.
But rest assured, the questionnaires, surveys and data results from my British MPhil and PhD theses were intellectually useful and interesting.
BALLARD, PAUL AND JOHN PRITCHARD (2001) Practical Theology in Action, London, SPCK.
BROWNING, DON S. (1985)(2005) ‘Practical Theology and Political Theology’, Theology Today, Volume 42, Number 1, Article 2, Princeton, Princeton Theological Seminary.http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1985/v42-1-article2.htm.
DEAN, WILLIAM (1990) ‘Empirical Theology: A Revisable Tradition’, in Process Studies, Volume 19, Number 2, pp. 85-102, Claremont, California, The Center for Process Studies.http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2791.
DUBRAY, C.A. (1911)(2007) ‘Naturalism’ in New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia, New York, Robert Appleton Company.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10713a.htm
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
ERRICKER, CLIVE, DANNY SULLIVAN, AND JANE ERRICKER (1994) ‘The Development of Children’s Worldviews, Journal of Beliefs and Values, London, Routledge.
FRANCIS, LESLIE J. and Practical Theology Team (2005) ‘Practical and Empirical Theology’, University of Wales, Bangor website, University of Wales, Bangor.http://www.bangor.ac.uk/rs/pt/ptunit/definition.php.
GANZEVOORT, R. RUARD (2004)(2005) ‘Van der Ven’s Empirical/Practical Theology and the Theological Encyclopedia’, in Hermans, pp.53-74, C.A.M. & Moore M.E. (eds), Amsterdam.http://www.ruardganzevoort.nl/a04vdven.htm.
HEIMBROCK, HANS-GUNTER (2005) ‘From Data to Theory: Elements of Methodology in Empirical Phenomenological Research in Practical Theology’ in International Journal of Practical Theology, Volume 9, December, Berlin, Walter D. Gruyter.
http://xolopo.de/religionswissenschaften/data_theory_elements_met
hodology_empirical_15063.html
INBODY, TYRON (1995) The Constructive Theology of Bernard Meland: Postliberal Empirical Realism, Atlanta, Scholars Press.
KRIKORIAN, K. (1944)(2007) (ed.), Naturalism and the Human Spirit, New York, Columbia University Press, in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University.http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/naturalism/
PETERS, KARL, E. (1992) ‘Empirical Theology in the Light of Science, in The Journal of Religion and Science, Volume 27 Issue 3 Page 297-325, September, Oxford, Zygon, Blackwell Publishing.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-
9744.1992.tb01068.x
SIRE, JAME W (1975) The Universe Next Door, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
WHALE, J.S. (1958) Christian Doctrine, Glasgow, Fontana Books.
WINQUIST, CHARLES E. (1987) ‘Re-visioning Ministry: Postmodern Reflections’, in Lewis S Mudge and James N. Poling, Formation and Reflection: The Promise of Practical Theology by Lewis S Mudge and James N. Poling, Philadelphia, Fortress Press.
http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=586&C=850
1 Thessalonians 2:13
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.
Cited
Bible Hub: Strong's 4100
1 Thessalonians 2:13 V-PPA-DMP
GRK: ὑμῖν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν
NAS: performs its work in you who believe.
KJV: in you that believe.
INT: you who believe
Cited
pisteuó: to believe, entrust
Original Word: πιστεύω
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πιστεύουσιν in 1 Thessalonians 2: 13
Verb, present, participle, active & dative, masculine, plural
