Theology Unplugged

In this session, we'll explore the vital role emotions play in our theology, emphasizing their importance and how they intersect with key theological concepts like impassibility and the analogia entis. We will discuss how, far from being distractions, emotions help guide us toward deeper theological truths, while also exploring how God's impassibility relates to our emotional lives. Drawing from the works of Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, Aquinas, and others, we'll examine how they understood the role of emotions and the divine nature, as well as how we can master our emotions in light of their teachings. This session highlights the balance between divine impassibility and human emotional experience, emphasizing the need to control emotions rather than be ruled by them.

In this episode, we explore the powerful role of experience as a source of theology. God's revelation often comes to us through events in our lives, shaping our understanding of Him in unique and personal ways. We'll distinguish experience from emotions, focusing on how God can guide us and speak to us through our life circumstances. While experience can provide profound insights, it must always be weighed and balanced with scripture, tradition, and reason to avoid subjectivity. Join us as we uncover the role of experience in forming a well-rounded and balanced theology.

In this episode, we shift our focus to nature as a source of theology, often referred to as God's "second book." We'll explore how creation reveals truths about God and how nature has been a key source of theological reflection throughout history. By examining the beauty, order, and complexity of the natural world, we gain insight into the Creator. We'll discuss the benefits and limitations of using nature as a theological source and how it complements scripture, tradition, and reason in forming a multidimensional theology.

In this sixth Question and Answer Friday session, we explore a variety of thought-provoking topics, including what the Episcopal Church is and how it differs from other Christian traditions, whether Catholics are required to believe everything the Church teaches, and the interplay between philosophy and theology in the question "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" We also delve into intriguing questions about heaven, such as who one is married to if they've been married more than once, and whether there are essential Christian morals alongside essential beliefs. Tune in for a deep dive into these topics and more! Don't miss out, and be sure to engage in the comments-ask your questions and join the conversation!

In episode 50 of "Through Theology in a Year," we examine the values and benefits of tradition as a key source of theology. We'll explore how tradition fits into our overall understanding of theology and contributes to a more multidimensional or "three-dimensional" theological framework. This session emphasizes how all the different aspects-Scripture, tradition, reason, experience-work together to create a well-rounded and robust approach to knowing God. We'll also touch on the principium cognoscendi, the foundational principles of knowing, including how tradition interacts with other sources in this process.

In episode 49 of "Through Theology in a Year," we continue our exploration of the sources of theology by diving into the benefits and deficiencies of the six primary sources principium cognoscendi): Scripture, reason, tradition, nature, experience, and emotion. This session marks the beginning of a detailed analysis that will likely continue in future episodes, helping us understand how each source contributes to our theological framework and where they might fall short.

In episode 48 of "Through Theology in a Year," we begin an essential exploration of the sources for theology. We'll provide an overview of the five primary sources that inform our understanding of God-Scripture, tradition, reason, experience, and possibly a sixth, general revelation. We'll also discuss the "stage of truth," showing how these sources interact and how different Christian traditions prioritize them. This session sets the foundation for deeper study into how these sources shape our theological framework.

Join us as we dive deep into one of the most pivotal moments in church history-the night before Martin Luther's legendary "Here I Stand" speech at the Diet of Worms. While the world remembers his bold stand on April 18, 1521, few know about the intense spiritual and emotional struggle he faced the night before. We'll explore Luther's concept of "Anfechtung," a profound, demonic-like fear that gripped him, and how that night in April became the true turning point of the Reformation. Discover how this spiritual battle between God and man forged the resolute faith that would change history forever.

In this fifth Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged," we tackle a wide range of questions that dive deep into essential theological concepts. We discuss the distinction between monogenēs and the traditional translation of "only begotten," shedding light on how this Greek term has been understood in the New Testament and its implications for Christology.

In episode 47 of "Through Theology in a Year," we dive into the crucial topic of the development of doctrine within Christianity. We'll explore the Vincentian canon and its significance in understanding how Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism view doctrinal development. The discussion encourages a deep respect for the Church Fathers and church history while emphasizing the Protestant approach to understanding doctrine, where the DNA of the gospel is seen throughout history, rooted in the Scriptures.