At the end of this course you will be able to:

• broadly describe the methods and content of fundamental theology;
• recognize positions in theological debates regarding the truth-claims of Scripture, the Church, and Society;
• analyse the logic and world-views behind theological standpoints and formulate your own informed position based upon engaging and processing the course material;
• obtain basic knowledge to read primary theological texts in English.

Introduction to the foundations, tasks, and methods of Christian Theology

Fundamental Theology offers an introduction to Christian Theology. What is theology? What are its tasks and methods? How does it contribute to the rationality and credibility of Christianity? Fundamental theology is concerned with questions about the relationship of revelation and faith, tradition and the individual, philosophy and theology, science and religion, faith and truth, and church and society.

Christian faith has a variety of foundations, such as divine revelation, Holy Scripture, the Church, authoritative theologians, and the ideas and experiences of the faithful. Today, the authority of Scripture and the Church is contested by many. Many Christian believers, however, acknowledge that their faith is based on concepts of God, revelation, and truth. How can one account for these concepts in a secular and pluralist culture? And what is the task of academic theology within the university, in dialogue with other academic disciplines?