Lecture # 1: Introductory Theology

Theos ( Qeos ) = God

Logia ( logia )= discussion, discourse,
study
Question: How much have you known
God?

Activity: Respond to the following

statements:
1. The recent
flashflood that
killed many
people is a
warning from God
about our abuse
of environment.
We need to be
taught a lesson.

2. HIV / AIDS
epidemic is a
punishment of
God to
homosexuals. It
is His way to get
rid of sinners.

3. The Dominicans
and the Jesuits
pray for their own
teams (UST,
Ateneo) in the
UAAP; what will
happen? Who will
win?

4. I am angry at God because my

mother died of Leukemia. A
friend tells God is testing my
faith and I must submit to his
will.

5. I wish to go to
confession
because I have a
Nursing Board
exam coming
up.

6. I dont know if I
have a religious
vocation but if God
really wants me to
become a priest, He
will find a way to get
me. We cannot escape
Gods will.

7. A student is
going through
difficulties and
asks: God what
have I done to
deserve this?

8. Catholics
should not
become involved
in politics
because they are
supposed to
focus on spiritual
matters.

THE STATEMENTS ABOVE REFLECT

COMMON DISTORTED/INCOMPLETE
IMAGES OF GOD

Incomplete images of God limit our

response to him.
They affect our relationship to him.
They limit our spiritual growth.

EXAMPLES:
1. Over personalized image of God
GOD in my private
prayer room,
responding to my
needs; but not obliging
me to improve
relationships with
others or be involved in
community.

2. God as Lawgiver
A true image of God,
but incomplete and
poses a danger
May limit Christian
moral life to external
acts without extending
to relationships =
LEGALISM

3. God as Judge and Punisher

Moral life is
motivated by fear
prevailing motive for
doing what is right is
to avoid judgment

4. God as tester
God sends problems to
test us.
e.g. Job

Reflect:
No testing has overtaken you that is not
common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will
not let you be tested beyond your strength, but
with the testing he will also provide the way out
so that you may be able to endure it.
(1Co 10:13 NRS)

5. God as Controller
God controls
everything; we cannot
escape His will

An authentic image of God is

crucial to our Christian Life.

The Holy Trinity,

a communion of love.

God is love.
1 John 4:

7a: Beloved, let us love one another, because

love is of God;
8: Whoever is without love does not know
God, for God is love.
10: In this is love: not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as
expiation for our sins.
Rom. 5:8 = Christ died for us even when we
were yet sinners

JESUS CHRIST
The Liberating image of God who has
revealed Himself to us: Jesus Christ.
The central message of Jesus = The Kingdom
of God.
The characteristic of the Kingdom = LOVE

Christian Moral Life is our

response to the God of Love.
God is love. He invites us to a loving
relationship with Him. Our response to
Gods love should reflect in our
relationship with others our fellowmen
as well as all creatures of God.