Assignment Introduction and Context:
In his Systematic Theology, first published in 1877 American Presbyterian theologian Charles Hodge confidently declared that the task of theology was the arrangement and display of the facts of Scripture. While Christians of all varieties appeal to the authority of Scripture, this week’s lesson has shown that far more than Scripture alone goes into our theological understanding. The various theological traditions recognize, formally or informally, the authority of Scripture, the authority of the church, the authority of reason, and the authority of experience.
Tasks:
From the perspective of your experience in your theological tradition discuss how these authorities are utilized to construct the particular gestalt (i.e. an organized whole that is more than the sum of its individual parts) of your tradition. Conclude your discussion with a critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the way your tradition relates these authorities together.
Your final product will be in a Microsoft Word document. Utilize at least five sources from professional and academic literature in your research. Professional and academic literature may include peer-reviewed journals from the South University Online Library; relevant textbooks; professional and academic books or monographs published by established academic and professional publishers. Interaction with relevant biblical texts is expected.
Your paper should be written in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and formatted in Turabian style.