Reformed Life Theology and Theological Education -Problems of Theology as a Science only

Reformed Life Theology is a protest against theology as just an academic discipline and an attempt to recover the original meaning of theology, that is, piety, doxology, prayer, etc. During the first 11 centuries, Christian theology was not a science but since the establishment of medieval universities and the Enlightenment was obliged to become a science. This process itself is not bad and has some positive aspects. But through this procedure, theology and piety was tragically separated and theology was specialized and classified into several subdivisions. This scientification of theology was accelerated by the emergence of Logical Positivism in 20th century. The specialization of theology resulted in the separation of church and theology. These vices of theology as an academic discipline are prominent especially in the field of theological education. The problems of theological education are not new. From various directions, the voices of discontent are heard. Theological education might be transformed to overcome the vices of theology as a science. In order to solve the separation of spirituality from theology there should be two strategies. Theological education should be intimately connected to the restoration of the original meaning of theology and the formation of spirituality. And in order to resolve the problem of the separation of theology from church there should be two additional strategies. Theological education should restore the connectedness of various theological disciplines. Theologians who are engaged in theological education should be concerned with church or ministry field.