Theologia: The Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education

by Edward Farley

Book by Farley, Edward

Genres: Theology, Education

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1983

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful if antiquated (originally published in 1983) view of theological education. There are timely warnings, but in my personal experience, Farley's call has been heeded. However, this is continually useful for developing educators in theological traditions.

[Timothy Winterstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that identifies and defines a problem that many people see, or at least sense, but don't have the words to explicate.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Farley probes the modern division between theory and practice in terms of the pedagogical goal and curriculum of theological instruction. From this division, he draws the strong conclusion that theology is absent from both. Theology in the sense of the virtue of drawing closer to God through disciplined study and practice has been replaced in the university by scientific competence in the academic disciplines appropriate to each area of study. The fourfold curriculum is the result: Scripture, History, Theology and Practice. Theology is absent in the church because by definition it is an academic skill. Clerical expertise is the goal of seminary training.
Farley is best in the chapter on Schleiermacher’s contribution to the modern model of teaching theology from the Brief Outline. First, Schleiermacher distinguished positive science from basic science. Positive science organizes a body of learning to show the rules that govern this field of study (p 87). The rules come from the second level of historical theology which generates a description of the Essence of Christianity. In the third level, philosophical theology, the Essence is thematized. After Schleiermacher, philosophical theology becomes science of the Christian religion (94).
Farley’s proposal for retrieval combines Schleiermacher’s workdview centered on redemption and elaborated with borrowings from the new hermeneutics. “Faith describes the way in which the human being lives in and toward God and the world under the impact of redemption.” (156, cf 176). The imagery, existentiality and corporate symbols of the community prevent faith from becomeing blind. Reflection on faith is theology (157). Object of faith is redemption. Theology as positive science. Purely hermeneutical (p 177).
Quote: “We begin with what might turn out to be an axiom: the axiom of
the primacy of the situation in which theological understanding occurs . Whatever is to be said about the independence and primacy of revelation in the order of knowledge and salvation, theological understanding is inevitably the understanding of an individual existing in an already disposed biographical, social, and historical situation.” p 165.

[Paul, · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is foundational to anyone studying reform in education for pastors, missionaries, etc.