Regarding the necessary instruction in Theology

brevis

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I am sad to see many good and devout Christians to go through an spiral of doubts of which they see no exit. They can be quite passionate at times, defending the views of whatever group they identify themselves with; be it a church, a denomination or a sect. Yet that zeal and passion does provide him with the answers they are looking for, because they are asking the wrong questions, and often to the wrong people.

In some cases, exhausted, they turn to atheism.

I would like then to ask those who find themselves in this situation, to seek instruction, to spend less time debating and more learning, even by the good old-fashioned way of reading books, and I don't mean the introductory stuff which is necessary for some, or the summaries of doctrines that are useful for all, but books on subjects such as Epistemology, Systematic Theology, Phenomenology, the formation of the Bible and the history of the Church.

Oh, yes does it sounds boring, and yes you could only need the Bible, or your church, our you could do it all yourself, but perhaps, just perhaps, centuries of study could help you a little bit.
 

Gnarwhal

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I am sad to see many good and devout Christians to go through an spiral of doubts of which they see no exit. They can be quite passionate at times, defending the views of whatever group they identify themselves with; be it a church, a denomination or a sect. Yet that zeal and passion does provide him with the answers they are looking for, because they are asking the wrong questions, and often to the wrong people.

In some cases, exhausted, they turn to atheism.

I would like then to ask those who find themselves in this situation, to seek instruction, to spend less time debating and more learning, even by the good old-fashioned way of reading books, and I don't mean the introductory stuff which is necessary for some, or the summaries of doctrines that are useful for all, but books on subjects such as Epistemology, Systematic Theology, Phenomenology, the formation of the Bible and the history of the Church.

Oh, yes does it sounds boring, and yes you could only need the Bible, or your church, our you could do it all yourself, but perhaps, just perhaps, centuries of study could help you a little bit.

I second this. :thumbsup:
 
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PaladinValer

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I am sad to see many good and devout Christians to go through an spiral of doubts of which they see no exit. They can be quite passionate at times, defending the views of whatever group they identify themselves with; be it a church, a denomination or a sect. Yet that zeal and passion does provide him with the answers they are looking for, because they are asking the wrong questions, and often to the wrong people.

In some cases, exhausted, they turn to atheism.

I would like then to ask those who find themselves in this situation, to seek instruction, to spend less time debating and more learning, even by the good old-fashioned way of reading books, and I don't mean the introductory stuff which is necessary for some, or the summaries of doctrines that are useful for all, but books on subjects such as Epistemology, Systematic Theology, Phenomenology, the formation of the Bible and the history of the Church.

Oh, yes does it sounds boring, and yes you could only need the Bible, or your church, our you could do it all yourself, but perhaps, just perhaps, centuries of study could help you a little bit.

I third it!
 
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whitetiger1

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I am sad to see many good and devout Christians to go through an spiral of doubts of which they see no exit. They can be quite passionate at times, defending the views of whatever group they identify themselves with; be it a church, a denomination or a sect. Yet that zeal and passion does provide him with the answers they are looking for, because they are asking the wrong questions, and often to the wrong people.

In some cases, exhausted, they turn to atheism.

I would like then to ask those who find themselves in this situation, to seek instruction, to spend less time debating and more learning, even by the good old-fashioned way of reading books, and I don't mean the introductory stuff which is necessary for some, or the summaries of doctrines that are useful for all, but books on subjects such as Epistemology, Systematic Theology, Phenomenology, the formation of the Bible and the history of the Church.

Oh, yes does it sounds boring, and yes you could only need the Bible, or your church, our you could do it all yourself, but perhaps, just perhaps, centuries of study could help you a little bit.
The problem is who to study in those area's? I would not want to get a liberal and head down yet another wrong path, though all seem to be the wrong path
 
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PaladinValer

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Sounds good to me. I'm still studying and learning, and will be for the rest of my life. :)

That's my personal philosophy as well.

Life is a mysterious pilgrimage: even at the final destination, you can still go on for the rest of eternity!
 
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Dorothea

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That's my personal philosophy as well.

Life is a mysterious pilgrimage: even at the final destination, you can still go on for the rest of eternity!

:thumbsup:
 
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drjean

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Systematic Theology is a great place to begin... But for those who feel even that is a daunting task, try reading Great Doctrines of the Bible By Evans. It's even a free read from the Gutenberg Project. It teaches the basic doctrines of the Bible, who God the Father is, God the Son, the Holy Spirit, about their attributes etc... and other doctrinal concepts that are basics for the Christian faith.
 
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Montalban

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Don't know....what do you think
that's one thing you'll never hear a guy ask his girl

One thing you'll never hear a guy say to his girl "Oh, I see, but can you tell that to me all over again, only in more detail?"
 
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whitetiger1

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:thumbsup:
Systematic Theology is a great place to begin... But for those who feel even that is a daunting task, try reading Great Doctrines of the Bible By Evans. It's even a free read from the Gutenberg Project. It teaches the basic doctrines of the Bible, who God the Father is, God the Son, the Holy Spirit, about their attributes etc... and other doctrinal concepts that are basics for the Christian faith.
How can one be sure he is right?
 
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drjean

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Greater theologs than I have approved Evan's work. It was and might still be the text for first year Christian Bible college students. ;) It's accepted just like Mathew Henry, Unger, Strong, A T Robertson, Thiessen, Morton Smith, but those are old sources. I'm not familiar with modern authors.

However, go to the websites of the Bible Colleges and Seminaries you are familiar with and agree basically with, and download or review their course books (such as here for WestMinster Knox
http://www.wjkbooks.com/Content/Site117/Basics/1794F11Academic_00000009447.pdf

Knowing that that particular seminary is Reformed Presbyterian will guide you in what you may or may not agree with (it never hurts to read what others base their beliefs in)... or look over some 18,000 books listed at the Central Bible College's site (while it's an Assemblies of God college, it lists all "usable" texts, some even by Catholic presses etc.) The Assemblies of God have a printing press in Springfield MO, where CBC is located.

anyway... I think I rambled. :doh:

 
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