Know God through theology or know theology through God?

[zoidar]

Which is closer to your understanding?

I believe that theology can become a hindrance to know God. We can know about God through theology, but we know God through the Holy Spirit. Amen?

 

[Carl Emerson]

If Theology is mans attempt to understand God then it is better to seek the truth of scripture through the revelations from the Holy Spirit. Take time out (years) to make a priority of this and you will have a foundation of truth to measure theology with.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

False dichotomy I'm afraid. The two of them are interrelated far beyond the proposal suggested in this thread.

 

[Carl Emerson]

I spent more than 5 years prayerfully reading nothing but scripture and enjoy a foundation of truth that serves me enormously.

 

[-Sasha-]

Which is closer to your understanding?

I believe that theology can become a hindrance to know God. We can know about God through theology, but we know God through the Holy Spirit. Amen?

I think of a theologian as one who has experienced the things of God, so I guess I would answer the poll with "both".

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

I think of a theologian as one who has experienced the things of God, so I guess I would answer the poll with "both".

As a theologian myself I concur.

 

[paul1149]

I won't pick one because I have experienced each one refining and strengthening the other.

 

[fhansen]

I believe that theology can become a hindrance to know God. We can know about God through theology, but we know God through the Holy Spirit. Amen?

Yep, the purpose of the first is to bring you to the second. Often we get all caught up in the first.

 

[zoidar]

I think of a theologian as one who has experienced the things of God, so I guess I would answer the poll with "both".

I chose on purpose only these two options in the poll so we have to choose the most correct one.

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

When a blind man loses his non-functioning eyes, he has to learn all over again how to cope with blindness. Though it would seem that the eyes are merely reacting to the understanding of the brain, it is true that even blind eyes provide insight to the brain as to the dimensions of a room.

So it is with the relationship between correct doctrine and a relationship with the Holy Spirit. The first guides an understanding of the other, which, in turn, guides an understanding of the first. By looking to what we cannot see, we are able to understand what we learn.

 

[zoidar]

When I got saved I didn't know much about theology at all. I had heard and read that Jesus died for our sins, and that we were sinners because of the fall of Adam. That was all I needed to be saved. I had no knowledge of differences in teachings between churches and denominations.