Orthodox Theology is intimately linked to spiritual experience. Thus, it has a very different meaning to the present usage of this word coming from academia. The scientific methods developed in the West since the seventeenth century can be of benefit in many regards, but without strong roots in the Orthodox tradition theology risks being "eaten up" by the human sciences.These roots are in the mystical tradition of the Church as passed down from the the beginning and expressed in the lives of saints, iconography etc. Thus this work has both a theoretical and a practical scope, of relevance to all Christians.
ForewordINTRODUCTIONChapter I. THEOLOGY: ORIGINAL NATURE, SUBSEQUENT EVOLUTIONS AND SHAPESTheology in its most elevated sense: mystical theologyThe practice of theology in the Church: catechetical, apologetic and doxological theologyThe birth and development of speculative theologyThe conditions for practicing theology in an Orthodox settingThe birth and development of academic theologyChapter II. THE USEFULNESS OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS IN THEOLOGYBibliographic researchThe critical editions of texts and their useHistorical criticismThe use of references (precise and exact)Rational argumentationChapter III. DOGMATIC THEOLOGY
Chapter IV. SACRED SCRIPTURE AND ITS EXEGESISThe status of Sacred Scripture in the Orthodox traditionThe deleterious character of modern Protestant exegesis and Catholic exegesisPrinciples of Orthodox exegesisChapter V. PATROLOGYThe essential place of patrology in the teaching of Orthodox theologyThe importance of knowledge of the Fathers in theological knowledge and understandingThe need for reference to the Fathers in the practice of theologyOn the proper use of the Fathers in the practice of theologyThinking in the spirit of the FathersThe continuing relevance of the Fathers todayStudying the Fathers in their works and not in the commentaries on themMethodology of patristic studies in the field of research
Chapter VI. CHURCH HISTORYChapter VII. MORAL THEOLOGY AND BIOETHICSMoral theologyBioethicsChapter VIII. HAGIOLOGYChapter IX. ICONOLOGYChapter X. STUDY OF THE CANONSChapter XI. PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND HOMILETICSConclusionNotesIndexDescription for sales people
Dr Jean-Claude Larchet is one of the most notable living philosophers and authors on Orthodox Christian Patristics. He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Strasbourg. A teacher of philosophy for nearly thirty-five years, he is an author of over thirty books and countless articles whose work has been translated into seventeen languages. His magnum opus, Therapy of Spiritual Illness, and several other works have been translated into English to wide acclaim.
