Theo 201 Study Guide #1

Quiz 1 Study Guide

Towns: Chapter I (1-42)

• What does “prolegomena” mean?

o Since every infinite thing has be begin somewhere, we begin one’s study with God. (“things that are said before”) Prolegomena is the introduction to the study of theology because it comes first and gives direction to the formation of one’s belief. (pg. 5)

• What are the 3 presuppositions of prolegomena? (pg. 6)

o There is a God

o That truth exists

o A person can know the truth

o Therefore, we assume that there is a God and that the truth exists with Him.

• What is the contemporary usage of the word “theology?” (pg. 7)

o Strong: “ Theology is the science of God and the relations between God and the universe.”

o Fitzwawter: “ Theology, is the science of God’s essential being and His relationship to the universe as set forth in the Holy Scriptures.”

o They both take note of the fact other theologians define theology as the “science of religion” or “the doctrines of the church”

• What is catechism? (pg. 7)

o A person is given a question so that he may give a proper doctrinal answer. The study of theology is thought to challenge the mind and explore the obvious answer. There are problems with this method, known as the catechism. Over the years the questions and anwers no longer become spontaneous. The answer becomes memorized rather than analyzed.

• What are 5 presuppositions for the task of theologizing? (pg. 9)

o That there is a God and thet He has revealed himself

o That there are laws that are self-evident

o That man has the ability to know all things to the degree to which he directly observes them

o That the truth does not contradict itself, but is consistent and corresponds to reality

o That the mind accepts that which is logical and rejects that which is illogical

• What are the...