دانلود کتاب That Man Might Become God: Lectures on Christian Theology

Every religion provides its followers with two things, a doctrine and a method. The doctrine is like a map; it describes the landscape of Reality, explaining the way things truly are. The method is a set of practical instructions that concern what a person must do in order to travel to the places the map sets out; it involves the application and verification of doctrine in the believer's own experience. Theology includes the study of both doctrine and method, both metaphysical principles and spiritual practice. It is the science of God and of deification.This course is an introduction to the theology of the Christian religion, especially its doctrinal dimension. Our aim is to understand the Christian Map of Reality by examining basic Christian teachings concerning the origin, nature, and structure of man and the universe in relationship both to each other and to God. This approach is sometimes referred to as "systematic" theology, for the goal is to understand the essential doctrines of this religion as organically related parts of a single spiritual system. The chief interest is not the historical origin or development of religious institutions nor the social or psychological context of religious belief, but the underlying meaning and internal consistency of the Christian worldview as a whole.We shall focus on the Christian understanding of God, Creation, the Fall, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Resurrection and life after death. Special attention will be devoted to the person of Christ and the doctrine of the Incarnation. In each case, the teachings of Christianity will be approached, not as abstract propositions simply demanding assent, but as spiritual supports for an ascent toward union with God.Beginning with his doctoral studies at Harvard, and continuing throughout his professional career, Professor Cutsinger's scholarly work has been focused on challenging contemporary academic assumptions concerning the nature of man and the limits of knowledge.