Title

Wesleyan theological methodology as a theory of integration

School/Department

Talbot School of Theology

Publication Date

Fall 2004

Abstract

The central claim of this article is that debates over the integration of psychological theories and findings, on the one hand, and Christian doctrine, on the other, largely boil down to differences in theological methodology, and that the theological methodology often associated with John Wesley offers a compelling model of such integration. Section I lays out how it is that while there are logical and normative matters involved in discussions of theoretical integration, methodological issues are at the heart of such discussions, and hence, how it is that one’s theological methodology determines one’s theory of integration. Given this thesis, Section Π outlines the general contours of Wesleyan theological methodology. This methodology involves four mutually interacting though hierarchically arranged sources of knowledge: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. The final section elucidates the manner in which this understanding of theological method can be taken as a viable and vital model of the of the theoretical integration of psychology and theology.

Keywords

Integration (Theory of knowledge); Postmodern theology

Publication Title

Journal of Psychology & Theology

Volume

32

Issue

3

First Page

190

Last Page

199

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