Christian Theology Research: Christology, Meditation, and Belief

This essay delves into the big question of whether Christology, the study of Jesus, is solely attained through church visits and theological study or if meditation can also play a crucial role. The essay examines the various aspects and interpretations of Christology within Catholicism, acknowledging that while the core narrative of Jesus remains consistent, its interpretation evolves. It explores the significance of meditation as a form of prayer and a path to experiencing God, contrasting it with traditional church practices. The essay uses a case study of Ria, who finds her faith through meditation. It presents a biblical-theological argument, analyzing the Old and New Testaments' perspectives on Christology, and argues that meditation provides a unique way to identify God's existence. The essay addresses opposing viewpoints, emphasizing the importance of adapting to modern perspectives. It concludes by highlighting the implications of embracing meditation as a means of strengthening faith, particularly for younger generations, and supports its practice with biblical principles.

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

Big Question and Thesis
The big question that arises through the case is that “Does Christology happens only through
Church visits or reading theological facts, or it could be attained through Meditation too?”
Christology or the study of Jesus, carries multiple aspects and versions which are numerous
in number, this brings in the fact that Jesus exists in various forms as per the views of the
humans. The increasing number of versions of Christology in Catholic beliefs, reveals that
the facts of Jesus’s story remains the same but the logic and reasoning behind each incident is
being moulded as per the new thoughts and perspectives. Meditation in Christianity is defined
as a form of prayer which is structure in a way that it attempts to become aware of and reflect
upon the revelations of God1 Meditation is a way of reaching to God through visiting your
internal faith and following your own path. The historical stories and incidents about Christ,
is stated in different way by different authors, writers, visionaries and others, but meditation
is the path through which one reaches his inner God and his identification or role in the
society gets identified.
In the case, it is revealed that Ria who grew up listening to Christ’s stories, still never
believed in him and his work until she witnessed it herself and within herself through
meditation. Though Joseph tried every way to make her daughter believe in Jesus and for this
he used to take her to the church and provided her with all the information on Jesus’s actions
but Ria realized its significance and implications when she gained witnessed God within her.
Literally Meditation means to reflect on, to study and to practice2 This reveals that meditation
in itself is a complete process where it initiates with a reflection, its study and its practice.
1 "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Christology". Newadvent.Org. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11,
2020. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14597a.htm.
2 R, Morgan. Reclaiming The Lost Art Of Biblical Meditation: Find True Peace In Jesus. Thomas Nelson., 2017.

God if acknowledged through meditation then the three steps of reaching him is executed
automatically, that is reflecting on him (gaining your version of God), studying
(acknowledging him through all the parameters which are self-created), and practicing
(believing in him and integrating his actions). The three steps or the three elements of
meditation justifies itself for being a measure to identify and realise the existence of God and
its practices. The case provides a clear indication of realizing God within and identifying
your worth in the society.
Biblical Theological Argument
Catholic Christology is a wide framework and multiple works on it has revealed that various
versions of Christology has been delivered. The versions carry their own beliefs which are
framed through moulding on the existing beliefs. The reformation or recreation of Jesus
actions and existence has been worked on a wide scale and this could be stated as creating
confusion among the coming generation. There exists two specific versions of Christology
one is Old Testament and the other is New Testament3The Old Testament is framed not on
Jewish scribe but of the Christian Theologian. The Old Testament states that Jesus was the
first to use it in this was by his repeated appeal to the Messianic passages of the prophetic
writings. The Apostles saw in these prophecies many arguments in favour of the claims and
the teachings of Jesus Christ; the Evangelists, too, are familiar with them, though they appeal
less frequently to them than the patristic writers do. The New Testaments provides with a
view that there are two Christ’s, the Messiahs of faith and the Jesus of the history 4They
regard the Lord and Christ, Whom God exalted by raising Him from the dead, as the subject
3 "Biblical Meditation | Bible.Org". Bible.Org. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
https://bible.org/article/biblical-meditation.
4 Biblicalchristianworldview.Net. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
http://www.biblicalchristianworldview.net/documents/biblicalChristianMeditation.pdf.

of Christian faith; and Jesus of Nazareth, the preacher and worker of miracles, as the theme of
the historian5 They assure us that it is quite impossible to persuade even the least experienced
critic that Jesus taught, in formal terms and at one and the same time, the Christology of Paul,
that of John, and the doctrines of Nicæa, of Ephesus, and of Chalcedon. The two different
aspects of Jesus and his works creates a path for meditation to be the only path of identifying
the existence of God in one form 6Though Church and other religious sites could help in
preserving the historical facts but the actual identification or realisation is to be made within
oneself. If one takes the responsibility of identifying his role in the society and work on it this
could enhance the word into a better place. As per Catholic beliefs and faith, God is
everywhere and he needs to be identified through identifying one’s role and aim of life7
Executing church responsibilities and duties helps a person in gaining an identity as per the
Catholic faith, but the new version even if the person do not execute all his church duties, he
could be a responsible candidate of God who has a specific role to play in the society and
serve the society for living a better life.
Opposing View and its Response
Meditation could be used as a path to acknowledge God and realize his existence as is
revealed through the case but a contradictory view also exists as the path which led to
meditation has been the path of God which was followed in the early times. The base of
meditation is the traditional way of believing in God and portraying his image. This view
5 F. E., Peters. The Voice, The Word, The Books: The Sacred Scripture Of The Jews, Christians, And Muslims.
Princeton University Press., 2018.
6 "Christian Meditation: Experiencing The Presence Of God - PDF Free Download". Epdf.Pub. Last modified
2020. Accessed April 11, 2020. https://epdf.pub/christian-meditation-experiencing-the-presence-of-god.html.
7 "Christian Meditation Techniques.Pdf | Christian Meditation | Meditation". Scribd. Last modified 2020.
Accessed April 11, 2020. https://www.scribd.com/document/160732319/Christian-Meditation-Techniques-pdf.

could no way be denied that God has flourished through the faith and beliefs created and
followed by our ancestors. Mediation is about identifying the inner faith and the faith trend or
tradition has been inculcated within the humans through creation and identification of God.
No faith could exist without God’s significance and thus, there exists a broad and accurate
contradiction to the view that mediation helps in reaching to God, actually it’s the other way
round8 This aspect carries a traditional way of creating faith but on acknowledging the human
perspective which has been transforming through developments and innovations, needs to be
accompanied by some new forms of reaching to God. The current generation or the future
generation carries a mind-set of believing what they can assess or access and this concept or
perspective is also applied in God. For keeping the children or the future generation
connected to the traditions and beliefs, a new path was required and meditation has been one
such path9 Through meditation one identifies his capabilities and his existence which
enlightens him about the existence of God. Various new forms of identifying and
representing God, created and practiced by saints and other service providers has been done
with an intention of sustaining in the new world where the youngsters require proof for every
faith, belief or worship. This scenario is best understood through Ria and Joseph case.
Implications for following the concerned convictions
The follow up of the stated conviction could help in creating rather inculcating faith and trust
within the growing up children and youngsters. Meditation is one of the new trends in the
world which is attracting many people for staying fit and being successful. There are multiple
versions and benefits of mediation which is utilised by the people as per their convenience
8 L, Smith. Books Of Theology And Bible Study. The European Book In The Twelfth Century, 2018.
9 Objects.Cwgministries.Org. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
http://objects.cwgministries.org/Meditation%20-%20How%20to%20Study%20the%20Bible%20in%20the
%20Presence%20of%20God.pdf.

and greed of benefit. Implying mediation as a measure or tool to know God or recognise his
existence, would provide the current and the future generation with a simplified and authentic
way of believing the historical events and facts. There is no second thought on the benefits
that one could gain through having an immortal faith on Jesus, but implying it just through
stating few facts and in words would not be convenient for the generation who wants proof
and instant results10 For making them believe the existence of God, they are required to
provide with a path through which they gain instant results, and that is meditation. Though
meditation requires patience and technical training, the results are felt on a short period which
increases its practice. Scientifically proven facts on meditation makes it an easier to believe
action for the youngsters and future generation and thus the practice gets accelerated among
them. As Ria took all the stories on Jesus and Bible some imaginary story but believed it
when she witnessed it herself through meditation and gained enlightenment on her purpose of
life, this is the case with all the growing up children and the future generation would be more
tough to make them practice their tradition. Thus, meditation could be a helping tool in the
future generation for executing and portraying the historical and religious beliefs. Tradition,
culture, and faith could be saved through meditation practice and using it a tool for justifying
the facts. The practice of meditation is also supported by Bible and its principles.
10 Parable.Com. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
https://www.parable.com/assets/pcom/files/Excerpt/9780718083373.pdf.

Bibliography
"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Christology". Newadvent.Org. Last modified 2020.
Accessed April 11, 2020. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14597a.htm.
"Biblical Meditation | Bible.Org". Bible.Org. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
https://bible.org/article/biblical-meditation.
Biblicalchristianworldview.Net. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
http://www.biblicalchristianworldview.net/documents/biblicalChristianMeditation.pdf.
"Christian Meditation: Experiencing The Presence Of God - PDF Free Download". Epdf.Pub.
Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020. https://epdf.pub/christian-meditation-
experiencing-the-presence-of-god.html.
"Christian Meditation Techniques.Pdf | Christian Meditation | Meditation". Scribd. Last
modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
https://www.scribd.com/document/160732319/Christian-Meditation-Techniques-pdf.
Objects.Cwgministries.Org. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
http://objects.cwgministries.org/Meditation%20-%20How%20to%20Study%20the%20Bible
%20in%20the%20Presence%20of%20God.pdf.
Parable.Com. Last modified 2020. Accessed April 11, 2020.
https://www.parable.com/assets/pcom/files/Excerpt/9780718083373.pdf.
R, Morgan. Reclaiming The Lost Art Of Biblical Meditation: Find True Peace In Jesus.
Thomas Nelson., 2017.
F. E., Peters. The Voice, The Word, The Books: The Sacred Scripture Of The Jews,
Christians, And Muslims. Princeton University Press., 2018.

L, Smith. Books Of Theology And Bible Study. The European Book In The Twelfth Century,
2018.