“Theology” is thoughts of God.
“Meta-Theology” is thoughts of thoughts of God.
This is one step removed from theology.
So then, if Christians say that God is “three” and Jews say
that God is “one,” this blog will ask what that means.
In simplest terms, I intend to take a doctrine at face value
and ask what that doctrine means to those who believe it.
In a number of cases there will be no practical difference
between a set of beliefs. Jews and
Christians both agree that a person “works” because he is “saved” (i.e. in
a covenant relationship with God). When Christians ask “what
would Jesus do?” Jews will ask “What does the Torah say?” Or rather, when
Christians ask “Who is the Word of God?” they find Jesus and when Jews say “What
is the Word of God” they find the Torah. For each, these are equivalent parts
of their religious guidance.
In some cases there will be profound differences, such as the
belief that the Tribulation is the Tribulation of the Saints in contrast to the
belief that it is the Wrath of God. The first is more common in the third world
and the second is more common in western democracies.
But before we begin, what is “God” to you? How do your
beliefs change your daily life? If they don’t have any effect on your daily
life, then what eternal meaning could they possibly have? It’s okay to question
what beliefs mean. That’s how we learn to use them.
So here’s my first thought:
The purpose of religion is to make us better for the world.
That is, the purpose of our God is to make us better for other
people.
If that is not so, what on earth is your religion for?
Tim
