THEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS12/9/2010. By Rebecca Marie Jones

MY THEOLOGY• My starting point is,

and has been since my Position Paper, God as Creator.

PAPER #1: CREATION & SIMPLICTY

First Paper = a contrast and comparison between my starting point and Aquinas’ and how the different starting points enter into conversation as the two theologies continue to develop.

PAPER #2: EVIL

Second Paper = a discussion of how the existence of evil plays into Aquinas’ theology and transforms my own.

PAPER #3: GOD, CREATION, RELATIONSHIP

Research Question: How does the fundamental idea of God as Creator effect the way relationship between Creator and creation is understood in my theology?

SOURCES

Steven Bouma-Prediger’s “Creation As the Home of God: The Doctrine of Creation in the Theology of Juergen Moltmann.”

Panenthiesm and Ecological Christianity

SOURCES

Jack C Carloye “The Existence of God and the Creation of the Universe.”

What does it mean for God to “exist”?

What is the purpose of Creation?

SOURCES

Jonathan R. Cohen “In God’s Garden: Creation and Cloning”

Can humans create? How does

technology fit into religious ideas about creation?

How can human creativity effect God’s creativity?

SOURCES Steven A. Rogers “The

Parent—Child Relationship as an Archetype for Relationship Between God and Humanity in Genesis”

Incorporation of Biblical texts

Does God’s relationship with humanity grow and evolve?

CONVERSATION WITH AQUINAS

Is God Unchangeable? Is God in relationship with humanity and

creation?

CONVERSATION WITH AQUINAS

Is God Unchangeable?

Aquinas: Yes. Rebecca: No. Rogers: No. Bouma-Prediger: No Cohen: No Importance? Change

seems to be a necessary function of God the Creator

CONVERSATION WITH AQUINAS

God as Relational Rebecca: Agreed. Cohen: Agreed. Bouma-Prediger:

Agreed. Rogers: Agreed. Difference? I don’t

believe in a Triune God, so God’s relations must be outside Godself

CONVERSATION WITH AQUINAS

God in Real Relationship with World?

Aquinas: No. Rebecca: Yes. Carloye: Yes. Rogers: Yes. Bouma-Prediger: Yes Purpose of humanity