How To Think Theologically

Decades of use and refinement have solidified the place of How to Think Theologically as the indispensable guide to helping students of theology realize their call to be theologians. By focusing not on thinkers or thoughts, but on thinking, Stone and Duke induct readers into those habits of mind that lead to understanding all things--social, cultural, and personal--in relation to God. The new edition includes: Expansions of existing chapters An annotated bibliography of recommended reading An appendix of theological labels An expanded glossary Key points highlighted in call-outs throughout Updated case studies Discussion questions Both experienced teachers and beginning students will benefit from Stone and Duke's latest revision of their classic text.

We are constantly engaged in processing data and sensory inputs all around us, even when we are not conscious of the many neural pathways our minds are traveling. So taking a step back to ponder the dimensions and practices of a particular way of thinking is a challenge. Even more important, however, is cultivating the habits of mind necessary in a life of ministry. This book, therefore, will grapple with the particular ways that the theological disciplines invite students to think but also the ways in which thinking theologically shapes a student’s sense of self and his or her role in a wider community of belief and thought. Thinking theologically is not just a cerebral matter; thinking theologically invokes an embodied set of practices and values that shape individuals and communities alike. Thinking theologically demands both intellect and emotion, logic and compassion, mind and body. In fact, this book—as part of the Foundations for Learning series—will contend that these binaries are actually integrated wholes, not mutually exclusive options.

Whenever we read, think, hear or say anything about God, we are doing theology. Yet theology isn't just a matter of what we think. It affects who we are. In the tradition of Helmut Thielicke's A Little Exercise for Young Theologians, Kelly Kapic offers a concise introduction to the study of theology for newcomers to the field. He highlights the value and importance of theological study and explains its unique nature as a serious discipline. Not only concerned with content and method, Kapic explores the skills, attitudes and spiritual practices needed by those who take up the discipline. This brief, clear and lively primer draws out the relevance of theology for Christian life, worship, mission, witness and more. "Theology is about life," writes Kapic. "It is not a conversation our souls can afford to avoid."

The exodus—the story of God leading his chosen people out of slavery in Egypt—stands as a pivotal event in the Old Testament. But if you listen closely, you will hear echoes of this story of redemption all throughout God's Word. Using music as a metaphor, the authors point us to the recurring theme of the exodus throughout the entire symphony of Scripture, shedding light on the Bible's unified message of salvation and restoration that is at the heart of God's plan for the world.

"Religious commitment is a motivation, not a substitute, for careful thinking." So writes Fritz Guy in Thinking Theologically: Adventist Christianity and the Interpretation of Faith, a new release from Andrews University Press and a work long awaited by his colleagues and students. Guy offers his philosophy of how North American Seventh-day Adventists ought to go about the business of "doing theology." The work is addressed to theological students, pastors, and serious general readers who are interested in what theological thinking is, why it is important, who needs to be doing it, and how it should be done. - Preface -- What Theological Thinking Actually Is; Basic vocabulary; Basic characteristics; More vocabulary -- Why Everyone Should Think Theologically; An essential task; An inclusive task; A parable -- How Theological Thinking Should Begin; Audiences and motivations; Moral principles; Methodological principles -- Why Theological Thinking is Open-Ended; Limitations and change; Continuing discovery; Kinds of development -- How to Think with Intellectual Integrity; Criteria; Application; Theological fallacies -- Examining the ingredients -- How Scripture Should Function; Priority over subsequent theological tradition; Ellen White as an agent of scripture; Scripture as a whole; Theological Christocentricity; Existential perspective -- What Else Is Involved; Relation to scripture; Varieties of ingredients -- How Culture Makes a Difference; Secularity and secularism; Underlying intuitions; Theological implications -- Envisioning the work -- What Logical Presuppositions Need to Be Identified; Meaning and validity; Belief and trust; Evidence and demonstration -- What Forms Theological Thinking Can Take; Traditional systematic form; Bibliographical excursus:twentieth-century systematic theology; Other ways of organizing theology; Components and dangers -- Why Tripolar Thinking is Essential; Christian gospel; Cultural context; Adventist heritage; The challenge of tripolarity

Reading Theologically brings together eight seminary educators from various backgrounds to explore reading in a seminary context—reading theologically. Reading theologically is not just about academic skill building but about the formation of a ministerial leader who can engage scholarship critically, interpret Scripture and tradition faithfully, welcome different perspectives, and help lead others to do the same. This volume emphasizes the vital skills, habits, practices, and values involved in reading theologically and is a vital resource for students beginning the seminary process and professors of introductory level seminary courses.

Compassionate, biblical, and thought-provoking, Embodied is an accessible guide for Christians who want help navigating issues related to the transgender conversation. Preston Sprinkle draws on Scripture, as well as real-life stories of individuals struggling with gender dysphoria, to help you understand the complexities and emotions of this highly relevant topic. This book fills the great need for Christians to speak into the confusing and emotionally charged questions surrounding the transgender conversation. With careful research and an engaging style, Embodied explores: What it means to be transgender, nonbinary, and gender-queer, and how these identities relate to being male or female Why most stereotypes about what it means to be a man and woman come from the culture and not the Bible What the Bible says about humans created in God’s image as male and female, and how this relates to transgender experiences Moral questions surrounding medical interventions such as sex reassignment surgery Which pronouns to use and how to navigate the bathroom debate Why more and more teens are questioning their gender

Everyday theology is the reflective and practical task of living each day as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. In other words, theology is not just for Sundays, and it's not just for professional theologians. Everyday Theology teaches all Christians how to get the theological lay of the land. It enables them to become more conscious of the culture they inhabit every day so that they can understand how it affects them and how they can affect it. If theology is the ministry of the Word to the world, everyday theologians need to know something about that world, and Everyday Theology shows them how to understand their culture make an impact on it. Engaging and full of fresh young voices, this book is the first in the new Cultural Exegesis series.