Major Theologies

  • Major Theologies (Contents)

    , ,

    1: Wesleyan Biblical Theology 2: Dispensationalism 3: Canonical Criticism 4: Narrative Theology 5: Reformed Theology 6: Arminianism 7: Lutheranism 8: Roman Catholic Theology 9: Eastern Orthodox Theology 10: Liberation Theology 11: Process Theology 12: Augustinian Theology 13: Thomistic Theology 14: Reformation Theology 15: Neo-Orthodoxy 16: Liberation Theology 17: Contextual Theology…

  • 1: Wesleyan Biblical Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Biblical Theology Wesleyan Biblical Theology is firmly situated within the discipline of Biblical Theology because it emphasises understanding Scripture as an unfolding narrative that reveals God’s redemptive work progressively through history. It is grounded in a theological reflection that respects the historical context and…

  • 2: Dispensationalism

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Biblical Theology Dispensationalism is categorised within Biblical Theology because it focuses on understanding the progressive revelation of God’s plan as disclosed through distinct historical periods or “dispensations” in Scripture. It interprets biblical history as a series of economies or administrations in which God relates…

  • 3: Canonical Criticism

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Biblical Theology Canonical Criticism belongs to Biblical Theology because it centres on the final form of the biblical canon as the primary source of theological reflection. Unlike historical-critical approaches that focus on the sources or historical development of texts, Canonical Criticism studies the Bible…

  • 4: Narrative Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Biblical Theology Narrative Theology is placed within Biblical Theology because it approaches Scripture primarily as a unified, unfolding story centred on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Rather than focusing on isolated doctrines or propositional statements, Narrative Theology emphasises the biblical narrative as…

  • 5: Reformed Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Systematic Theology Reformed Theology is situated within Systematic Theology as it offers a comprehensive and coherent doctrinal system that organises biblical teachings into a structured framework. It systematically articulates doctrines such as the sovereignty of God, covenant theology, and salvation, reflecting deep engagement with…

  • 6: Arminianism

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Systematic Theology Arminianism is situated within Systematic Theology as it presents a coherent doctrinal framework addressing salvation, divine sovereignty, and human free will. It systematically articulates its theological positions in dialogue with other systems, especially Reformed Theology, and seeks to organise biblical teachings into…

  • 7: Lutheranism

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Systematic Theology Lutheranism is classified within Systematic Theology because it provides a comprehensive and coherent doctrinal system that organises biblical teachings, especially on justification, sacraments, and ecclesiology. It systematically articulates theological truths derived from Scripture, reflecting a structured theological framework characteristic of Systematic Theology…

  • 8: Roman Catholic Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Systematic Theology Roman Catholic Theology is placed within Systematic Theology as it systematically organises doctrines, sacraments, ecclesiology, and moral teachings into a comprehensive theological framework. It integrates Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium (teaching authority) as sources of divine revelation, reflecting a structured approach characteristic…

  • 9: Eastern Orthodox Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Systematic Theology Eastern Orthodox Theology is classified within Systematic Theology as it provides a comprehensive and coherent doctrinal system rooted in Scripture, Holy Tradition, and the teachings of the Church Fathers. It systematically articulates theological doctrines concerning God, salvation, and the Church, integrating liturgical,…

  • 10: Liberation Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual and Liberation Theologies (a subfield that often crosses over with Practical Theology) Liberation Theology is categorised primarily within Contextual and Liberation Theologies due to its focus on theology developed from the perspective of oppressed and marginalised communities. It integrates theological reflection with social…

  • 11: Process Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Process Theology is classified within Philosophical Theology because it employs philosophical methods—particularly those derived from process philosophy—to interpret and articulate theological doctrines. It emphasises God’s relationality, dynamism, and interaction with creation, challenging classical metaphysical assumptions about divine immutability and sovereignty. This philosophical…

  • 12: Augustinian Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Historical Theology Augustinian Theology is classified primarily within Historical Theology because it represents the doctrinal and spiritual legacy of Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) and his influential role in shaping Christian doctrine. It reflects the historical development of key theological concepts, especially on grace,…

  • 13: Thomistic Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Historical Theology Thomistic Theology is primarily situated within Historical Theology as a major theological movement that emerged in the medieval period. It reflects the historical development of Christian doctrine through the synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and biblical revelation by Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274). Thomism’s historical…

  • 14: Reformation Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Historical Theology (with profound influence on Systematic Theology) Reformation Theology is primarily situated within Historical Theology as it represents a pivotal historical movement in the 16th century that reshaped Christian doctrine and practice. It also significantly informs Systematic Theology by providing a renewed doctrinal…

  • 15: Neo-Orthodoxy

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Historical Theology (with significant contributions to Systematic Theology) Neo-Orthodoxy is primarily classified within Historical Theology as a 20th-century theological movement reacting against liberal Protestantism and modernism. It also substantially contributes to Systematic Theology by reformulating doctrines of revelation, sin, and grace. Neo-Orthodoxy seeks to…

  • 16: Liberation Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual and Liberation Theologies (often related to Practical Theology) Liberation Theology is primarily placed within Contextual and Liberation Theologies due to its focus on theology developed from the perspective of oppressed and marginalized communities. It integrates theological reflection with social praxis, emphasizing liberation from…

  • 17: Contextual Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual and Liberation Theologies (a subfield often related to Practical Theology) Contextual Theology is a broad theological category that develops Christian reflection in response to specific cultural, social, economic, and historical contexts. While it intersects with Liberation Theology, it is not limited to social…

  • 18: Pentecostal/Charismatic Practical Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology Pentecostal/Charismatic Practical Theology is situated within Practical Theology because it focuses on the lived experience, ministry practices, and spiritual formation within the context of Spirit-empowered Christianity. It applies theological reflection to the dynamics of spiritual gifts, worship, healing, and renewal movements, embodying…

  • 19: Catholic Pastoral Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology Catholic Pastoral Theology is classified within Practical Theology as it focuses on the application of Catholic doctrinal principles to pastoral care, ministry, and the lived experience of the Church. It integrates sacramental theology, moral teaching, and ecclesial authority to guide the Church’s…

  • 20: Liberation Practical Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology (within the broader Contextual and Liberation Theologies) Liberation Practical Theology is classified within Practical Theology because it directly engages in applying theological reflection to the lived realities of oppression and marginalisation. It is praxis-oriented, combining social analysis with transformative action, embodying theology…

  • 21: Evangelical Practical Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology Evangelical Practical Theology is situated within Practical Theology because it emphasizes the application of evangelical doctrinal truths to the lived experience and ministry of the Church. It focuses on faithful biblical interpretation, personal conversion, evangelism, and discipleship, integrating theology with practical ministry…

  • 22: Contextual Practical Theology

    , ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology (within the broader field of Contextual and Liberation Theologies) Contextual Practical Theology is classified within Practical Theology as it emphasises the development and application of pastoral and ministerial practices that are deeply informed by the specific cultural, social, and historical contexts in…

  • 23: Narrative and Reflective Practical Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology Narrative and Reflective Practical Theology is situated within Practical Theology as it emphasises the use of narrative and reflective methodologies to understand and inform ministry practice, spiritual formation, and pastoral care. It integrates theological reflection with personal and communal storytelling, facilitating deeper…

  • 24: Feminist Practical Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Practical Theology Feminist Practical Theology is situated within Practical Theology as it applies feminist insights to the praxis of ministry, pastoral care, and ecclesial life. It critically examines and challenges patriarchal structures within the Church and society, advocating for gender justice, inclusivity, and the…

  • 25: Classical Theism

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Classical Theism is a foundational tradition within Philosophical Theology that articulates the nature of God through metaphysical attributes such as omnipotence, omniscience, immutability, timelessness, and aseity. It employs philosophical reasoning to affirm God as the necessary, unchanging, and absolute being, rooted in…

  • 26: Process Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Process Theology is situated within Philosophical Theology as it applies process philosophy—particularly the metaphysical ideas of Alfred North Whitehead—to Christian theological concepts. It reinterprets divine attributes emphasizing God’s relationality, dynamism, and co-creativity with creation. Process Theology challenges classical notions of immutability and…

  • 27: Analytic Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Analytic Theology is positioned within Philosophical Theology due to its use of analytic philosophy’s rigorous methods—such as logical analysis, clarity in language, and argumentative precision—to articulate, clarify, and evaluate theological doctrines. It aims to provide clear, coherent, and rational accounts of theological…

  • 28: Existential Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Existential Theology is situated within Philosophical Theology as it engages existential philosophy—drawing from thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, and Paul Tillich—to explore themes of human existence, faith, anxiety, and authenticity. It focuses on the subjective experience of faith and the personal…

  • 29: Neo-Thomism

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Neo-Thomism is positioned within Philosophical Theology as a revival and development of Thomistic philosophy and theology. It seeks to apply the metaphysical and theological principles of Thomas Aquinas to contemporary philosophical and theological questions, often engaging modern scientific and philosophical challenges while…

  • 30: Negative (Apophatic) Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Negative Theology, also known as Apophatic Theology, is situated within Philosophical Theology because it employs a philosophical and theological approach that emphasizes the ineffability and incomprehensibility of God. It articulates God’s nature primarily by negation—stating what God is not—rather than through positive…

  • 31: Reformed Philosophical Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Reformed Philosophical Theology is situated within Philosophical Theology as it provides a systematic philosophical articulation of Reformed Christian doctrine. It integrates Reformed theological emphases such as God’s sovereignty, covenant, and providence with rigorous philosophical analysis, engaging with metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics to…

  • 32: Open Theism

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Open Theism is situated within Philosophical Theology as it provides a philosophical and theological framework that challenges classical theism’s views on divine foreknowledge and sovereignty. It proposes that God’s knowledge of the future is dynamic and open, emphasizing human free will and…

  • 33: Religious Epistemology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Religious Epistemology is positioned within Philosophical Theology as it explores the nature, scope, and justification of religious belief. It applies epistemological analysis to questions of faith, knowledge, and rationality, examining how religious claims can be known, justified, or reasonably believed. This tradition…

  • 34: Philosophical Hermeneutics

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Philosophical Theology Philosophical Hermeneutics is situated within Philosophical Theology as it applies philosophical inquiry to the theory and practice of interpretation, especially of sacred texts. It explores the nature of understanding, meaning, and interpretation in theology, addressing how humans engage with divine revelation through…

  • 35: African Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology African Theology is situated within Contextual Theology as a form of theological reflection emerging from the African cultural, social, and historical context. It seeks to articulate Christian faith authentically in dialogue with African traditions, communal values, and experiences of colonialism and postcolonial…

  • 36: Latin American Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Latin American Theology is situated within Contextual Theology as a theological reflection deeply rooted in the social, political, and cultural realities of Latin America. It emphasizes the preferential option for the poor and liberation from systemic injustice, integrating biblical faith with grassroots…

  • 37: Asian Theology

    ,

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Asian Theology is positioned within Contextual Theology as a theological reflection emerging from the diverse cultural, religious, and socio-political contexts of Asia. It seeks to articulate Christian faith authentically in dialogue with Asian philosophies, religions (such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam), and social…

  • 38: Indigenous Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Indigenous Theology is situated within Contextual Theology as a theological reflection emerging from the unique cultural, spiritual, and historical experiences of indigenous peoples worldwide. It seeks to articulate Christian faith through the lens of indigenous worldviews, emphasizing connection to land, community, and…

  • 39: Feminist Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Feminist Theology is situated within Contextual Theology as a theological movement that critiques and reinterprets traditional theology from the perspective of gender justice and equality. It seeks to address and transform patriarchal structures within the Church and society, advocating for the full…

  • 40: Liberation Theology (Contextual)

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Liberation Theology (Contextual) is situated within Contextual Theology as a movement that arises from the lived experience of oppressed and marginalised communities, especially in Latin America, but with global resonance. It integrates theological reflection with social analysis and praxis, emphasising liberation from…

  • 41: Postcolonial Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Postcolonial Theology is situated within Contextual Theology as a critical theological approach that examines and responds to the legacies of colonialism in theological discourse and practice. It seeks to deconstruct Eurocentric theologies and to recover the voices and experiences of colonized and…

  • 42: Womanist Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Womanist Theology is a contextual theological movement that arises from the experiences and perspectives of Black women, primarily in the United States. It addresses the intersections of race, gender, and class oppression, advocating for liberation, empowerment, and justice within the Church and…

  • 43: Mujerista Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Mujerista Theology is a contextual theological movement that arises from the lived experiences of Latina women, particularly in the United States and Latin America. It focuses on the intersections of ethnicity, gender, and class, advocating for the liberation and empowerment of Latina…

  • 44: Minjung Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Minjung Theology is situated within Contextual Theology as a Korean contextual theological movement focusing on the experiences and struggles of the minjung—“the people,” specifically the oppressed and marginalized masses. It articulates Christian faith in solidarity with the suffering and liberation of the…

  • 45: Black Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Black Theology is positioned within Contextual Theology as a theological movement that arises from the experiences and struggles of African American communities. It emphasizes liberation from racial oppression and social injustice, articulating a faith perspective that empowers Black identity, dignity, and resistance…

  • 46: Latinx Theology

    1. Theological Category and Placement Category: Contextual Theology Latinx Theology is a form of Contextual Theology that arises from the lived experiences of Latinx communities in the United States and Latin America. It explores the intersection of cultural identity, faith, and social justice, emphasising the struggles and contributions of Latinx…