From the Theology Strand Mapping Exercise Feeling lost amidst the bewildering array of deconstructed post-modern non-realists? Then join in this simple exercise to find out where you are on the theological map. [The following labels apply only to this exercise, and do not refer to groups which may use these names. ] 1. CLASSICAL THEISTS God exists realistically. God created and sustains everything, is omnipotent and eternal, but is personal, interested and answers prayer. Non-classical theists may dispense with some of the traditional theory about God in favour of a simplified concept based solely on the reported experience of believers. 2. SPIRITUALISTS Not sure about God, but have a sense of the holy, the transcendent, and of other dimensions, possibly of the magical. New Agers fall into this category. 3. REVERENT AGNOSTICS Basically humanists, but believe that there is more to life than bread and ethics, i.e. a ‘spiritual’ dimension. Don’t believe in the supernatural, but may feel that there is some sort of force for good at work in the world (and perhaps a purpose to creation). 4. PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIOLOGISTS Explain religion in terms of individual or collective psychological needs and/or its role in maintaining power structures in society. May however take a positive view of it: radical, liberation and feminist theologians see religion as essentially a way of bringing about social change. 5. PRAGMATISTS Church-focused and not too concerned about theorising.
Believe that religion ‘works’ in the sense of encouraging people to do good deeds and helping them to cope with misfortune and death. 6. LINGUISTS Treat statements about God as metaphorical, not literally true. They may stand for statements about values (e.g. right and wrong) or for expressions of feelings of awe, wonder, insignificance and sin 7. POST-MODERNISTS Have got away from the idea that there are any objective facts ‘out there’. There is only one language, and interpretations. If ‘God’ is a useful concept for structuring our experience, that makes him as real as anything else.
Likely to be pluralistic, un-dogmatic. 8. ABSOLUTE ATHEISTS Have no use for the concept of God (as opposed to simple atheists who merely deny the existence of the God posited by the theists). al Father in the sky the First Cause - . our heavenly Creator e y ultimate concern ay person what has: undergone five years experience co a a pompleie) different a Se F. ‘Which of the ‘following divine qualities do > you think most important? -ommiscience “omnipotence : existence : £ omnipresence :
SoF Magazine No. 23, October 1995 G. Which OT figure do you sympathise with most? he Doctrine ‘of the Resurrection for. you? 2 eae Tose up and puted the stone away Do the s religions rs relate fe together as: _ true (ours) and false (pagan) _ progressive revelation :
Your score I-10 Pretty realist. Your heroes are Plato and Aquinas and you are probably reading the wrong magazine. 11-20 You're beginning to see the cracks in the foundation stones, but you don't think they need to worry you just yet. 20-30 Hovering between two world perspectives of Realism and Non-Realism, you’re needing to look at the situation again. 30-40 You’re definitely on the radical side of faith, but at the moment you’re keeping on the safe side of heretical. 40-50 Well, you’ve come to the nght place, a definite candidate for Non-Realism and membership of the Sea of Faith, if brave enough (no paddling allowed).