People of faith sometimes hesitate at the suggestion that they are by definition "theologians." The word tends to conjure up an image of an ordained church leader or an academic professional with formal training in the field. And, to be sure, such persons have carried the discipline of theology in a formal way through the generations, providing a structure and basis for the church's understanding of its faith.
Also, the accumulated work of formal theologians is massive to the point of being overwhelming to many people who attempt to delve into it. Its complexity can easily dissuade those with casual interest and even those required to study it.
But there is another level of theological thinking that goes on in the life and mind of every adherent to a faith. It usually does not lead to formal expression in a systematic way, but it becomes the working understanding of what one's faith means and how it is lived in real time. It is to this kind of theological thinking and to those who engage in it that the author offers this "set of keys."
These basic suggestions do not delve into the depths of the doctrines of the church or explore the nuances that have accompanied the Christian tradition. There are resources aplenty for anyone who wishes to explore those avenues and their many-faceted interpretations of the faith experience. This set of keys is more basic, but no less important. They provide helpful access to the rooms of theology and a perspective for dealing with what is found there, so that the encounters can be a healthy and wholesome part of the faith journey.
Introduction: A Theologian? Who Me?
Part 1: Keys for Personal Discernment
Key #1-Faith and Theology
Key #2-Faith and Beliefs
Key #3-Faith and the Partiality of Understanding
Key #4-Faith and the Sources of Theological Guidance
Key #5-Faith and the Religious Marketplace
Key #6-Faith and the Levels of Truth
Key #7-Faith and Science
Key #8-Faith and History
Key #9-Faith and Personal Development
Key #10-Faith and Other Faiths
Part 2: Using the Keys to Unlock Understanding
What kind of God is this?
How can I know what to believe?
Do I have to believe this Trinity thing?
How could Jesus be God and human at the same time?
How can the Bible be true when it contains so many inconsistencies?
What is a faithful way to respond to other faiths?
How do we apply the Bible's evolving moral guidance?
How do we bridge the gap between faith and science?
How does faith respond when bad things happen?
Part 3: Supplemental Keys on Particular Topics
The "Inspiration" of the Bible
The Old Testament Prophets
The Gospel "Portraits" of Jesus
The Bible as Source and Companion for the Faith Journey
Traditional Concepts That "Grow Up" Theologically
When Theological Concepts Grow Up
Conclusion: Theology as a Pilgrimage Toward Community
