Christian Theology And Religious Beliefs

Everybody has some idea of theology. Sikhs, Muslims, Confucionists and Buddhists have

a theological standpoint. Agnostics, Mystics, and Atheists have theological arguments for what

they believe. Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Scientists have strong theological

points for their beliefs. Webster’s definition of theology is “the study of religious faith, practice,

and experience: the study of God and God’s relation to the world: a system of religious beliefs or

ideas.” Everybody has a thought about theology.

Christian theology is the thinking and talking all Christians engage in so they can learn

and grow in the scope of their experience and understanding of their faith.1 All Christians engage

in Christian theology. The term, all Christians, is inclusive of all persons who experience the

faith of Christ: both genders, all nationalities, and every sexual orientation. Christian theology is

sourced by a like-minded community of believers. This community shares its social and religious

experiences and its beliefs developed over time about sin, salvation, grace, faith and so forth.2

Christian theology encompasses a number of study areas which include Bibliology, Christology,

Theological Anthropology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, Soteriology, and Eschatology. Defining

or exploring Christian theology is undertaken for the purpose of clarifying, understanding, and

solidifying one’s thoughts and ideas of Christ’s message.

1 Tyron Inbody, The Faith of the Christian Church (Grand Rapids, MI: William B Eerdmans Publishing Co.,

2005 ), 11

2 Delores S. Williams, a Womanist Perspective on Sin, from a Troubling in My Soul, Womanist Perspective

on Evil and Suffering. Edited by Emile M. Townes, (Marykn...

... middle of paper ...

...e, not just Adam. Adam and Eve were caretakers of the

Garden of Eden. They were told not to eat fruit from a certain tree. They ate the fruit and a sinful

nature was born. According to many theologians, this ‘original sin’ was passed on to every

generation. This sinful nature had to be dealt with by God. Man had to be forgiven for his sin.

Jeremiah 31:30 says, “Everyone shall die for his own iniquity.” No human escapes the

consequences of sin. Paul confirms this in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no not one.”

St. Augustine, probably the most ardent proponent of original sin says, “If Christ did not die in

vain, then human nature cannot by any means be justified and redeemed from God’s most

righteous wrath except by faith and the sacrament of the blood of Christ.”10 Calvin and Luther

both agree that man is totally depraved and could do no good.