Theology and Religious Studies: Analysis of Key Doctrines

This essay delves into several core aspects of Theology and Religious Studies, beginning with an examination of the Holy Spirit's essential role in the life of a Christian believer, emphasizing its guidance, comfort, and empowerment. It then addresses the compatibility of evolution with the doctrine of creation, referencing Darwin's work and the varying theological responses to it, including both acceptance and conflict. Finally, the essay provides an account of soteriology, highlighting its importance for understanding salvation and its relevance to preaching the gospel, noting humanity's need for redemption from sin and God's plan for resolving human issues as revealed in the Bible. Desklib offers a variety of similar resources for students.

Running head: THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Theology and Religious Studies
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Section A
3. Give an account as to why the Holy Spirit is essential to the life of the Christian believer.
The question that will be focused on in this paper is the fact of the importance of the Holy
Spirit of the Christian Theology. The Christian believers must be sure of the fact that the Holy
Spirit always tells the words of Jesus Christ to them. The Holy Spirit is the person who leads the
human beings to know about the omnipotence of God.1 One has to know the power of the Holy
Spirit to know about God more. The human beings will have to know about the messages of God
by the time He is led by God. The God’s commands will have to be obeyed by the human beings
through the Spirit.
It has to be understood that the person who has drunk the Spirit must be aware that he
will be controlled and consumed by the Spirit itself. The Spirit guides the human beings to the
success in their personal lives. It is the perpetual duty of the human beings to pray to the Holy
Spirit to lead and guide in a continuous manner. The Holy Spirit helps the human beings to live
in a holy manner and salvage the sins. The Holy Spirit has many roles to play in the lives of the
human beings.2 It can be advised that as the Christians, the human beings should let the Holy
Spirit take over the control over the different areas of the lives. The Bible reveals that the Holy
Spirit always comforts the human beings when they are suffering from any depression or
anything like that. The Holy Spirit helps the human beings to do all the things that the God wants
them to do or achieve.3
The Spirit always brings the peace in the minds of the followers of God. Jesus himself
has said that he will not leave the human beings as the orphans. In order to do that, he has said of
1 Jele Samuel Manganyi, Church And Society, 2012.
2 William Angor Anderson, The Gospel Of Luke (Liguori, Mo.: Liguori Publications, 2012).
3 Trinitarian Theology After Barth (Cambridge: James Clarke, 2012).

2THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
the Holy Spirit who will guide us in a continuous manner.4 Jesus Christ has said that the Holy
Spirit always helps the human beings in many ways like it reminds all the things about God that
they have learned. When the human beings have the proper faith on God, they will surely be led
to the salvation. God wants the human beings to remain in peace and this is the reason He has
made some ways by which they can be able to attain that peaceful position. God also wants the
human beings to remove the negative things that do not please them. In order to do so, the Holy
Spirit comes to the aid of the human beings in all the ways.
The Holy Spirit takes care of all the things in the lives of the human beings leads them to
complete the works as they had left them. When the common people are in distress, the Holy
Spirit calms them down and fills in them a kind of peaceful feeling by which they can attain
Another important role of the Holy Spirit is the fact that the human beings should always be
aware of the sins they have committed. If they do not realize their sins they would not be able to
salvage them. The Holy Spirit always makes them aware about their sins in the best ways. When
the human beings will be aware of the sins in their lives they will get back their conscience and
work accordingly. Thus they will get rid of all the previous sins committed in their early lives.
Some Christian followers have also said that they do not have any idea about how to pray to
God.5
The Holy Spirit will surely come to help those human beings in those situations. The
Holy Spirit will then work to make the people aware about their sins and how they could stop
committing them. The Holy Spirit makes the needful things to do the prayers for the human
4 Trinitarian Theology After Barth (Cambridge: James Clarke, 2012).
5 William Angor Anderson, The Gospel Of Luke (Liguori, Mo.: Liguori Publications, 2012).

3THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
beings. This becomes very effective indeed.6 However, one thing has toi be remembered. The
thing is the Holy Spirit surely will not be able to do all the things for the human beings. Rather,
the followers should read the Bible on a regular basis. The followers must be able to get the
advice from the Holy Spirit on how to live their lives and learn the basic truths of life. The Holy
Spirit will always stop the followers to go against the Scripture.7
Section B
1. Is evolution compatible with the doctrine of creation? Justify your answer.
Evolution is the biggest truth of the history of the human beings. The relationship
between the evolution and Christianity is very close indeed. It has been found that the book by
Charles Darwin named On the Origin of Species was from the Angelican priest indeed. This
quotation seemed to be very positive to the writer of the book Darwin. The Priest who is being
talked about in this section is the Rev. Charles Kingsley. The evolution of the animals can be
taken as the primary forms of the self-development.8 The theory of evolution depicted in the
book On the Origin of Species has been a very important thing for the understanding the
development of the creatures in this world.9 The Christian believers were so happy that the
theory of evolution had been inserted within the Biblical understanding.
However, many protests came in opposing this new theory of evolution by Darwin. It is a
part and parcel of every new theory when it is invented. Later it was clear that the priests of the
churches were so happy and satisfied with whatever was told in this theory. It is a myth of the
church that the theory of evolution was being greeted with horror by the church. Many Christian
6 Panteleimon, Eternal Mysteries Beyond The Grave (Chicago: Holy Trinity Publications, 2012).
7 Thomas L. Thompson, "Politics And The Bible", Holy Land Studies 13, no. 2 (2014): 223-227.
8 Simon Oliver and Karen Kilby, Faithful Reading (London: Continuum International Pub., 2012).
9 J. B Stump and Alan G Padgett, The Blackwell Companion To Science And Christianity (Malden, MA:
Blackwell Pub., 2012).

4THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
theology experts have expressed their views about the evolution theory in many ways. As a
matter of fact, it can be said that many great people in USA and United Kingdom thought of the
impacts of evolution in the best ways.10
The professor of the natural history in the Harvard University, Asa Gray was a committed
Christian. He completely believed in the matter of the Darwin’s theory of Evolution. Many
Christian theology experts also believed in the theory that Darwin had come up with. The
responses to the evolution have been documented by the theology experts in many ways indeed.
The experts like Rev. Aubrey Moore expressed his view that there has been a very close
relationship between the Christianity and the theory of evolution that Darwin had invented. He
was also of the opinion that the impact of Darwin or the Darwinism had appeared as an enemy
but it still worked like a friend indeed. The involvement of Christian theology has been very
close in this section since the creation of the universe by God is closely associated with it.11
The theologians believe that the creation of God is very much associated with God and
He is present everywhere in this world.12 This is why the He can be represented through Nature.
As the Darwin’s theory tells about the nature as the origin of the universe, God is the person who
has created the universe. However, the opposing comments have been driven from the author of
the book Charles Darwin himself. He has said that the God began this creation at the very
beginning but after that he did not get involved in this process in a direct manner. Darwin
himself was a deist. Darwin was never an atheist in his life so during his life he was considered
as a theist and evolutionist. During the time this book was published, most of the contemporary
10 J. B Stump and Alan G Padgett, The Blackwell Companion To Science And Christianity (Malden, MA:
Blackwell Pub., 2012).
11 Jason Rosenhouse, Among The Creationists (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012).
12 Rik Peels, "Does Evolution Conflict With God's Character?", Modern Theology (2018).

5THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Christian theologians had believed in his theory. However, in the current times, most of the
Christian theologians in America believe that this theory is no longer connected with the
Christian theological beliefs. In this context, it must be said that the matter of evolution is largely
accepted by the Christian people in Europe. Darwin himself became associated with several
theological and ideological issues all through.13
It has also been noticed that a clash between science and theology had occurred as a huge
number of people began to study the Bible from the literalistic point of view. This is
why Bible was interpreted from the literalistic segment as well.14
Thus the people came to know about the Bible in a scientific way
rather than a theological way indeed. This proves the fact that the
affinity between the science and theology has been very close just
like the Bible and the evolution theory by Charles Darwin. The great
theologian like Thomas Aquinas had developed a framework within
which the theory of evolution could perfectly fit into. God is
considered to be very much creative and it is the God who began
this creation of the universe. It has been attempted to showcase
God as the creator of this evolution process.
Section C
13 Jonathan Jong, "Peter Enns. The Evolution Of Adam: What The Bible Does And Doesn't Say About Human
Origins", Theology and Science 10, no. 2 (2012): 215-217.
14 Jonathan Jong, "Peter Enns. The Evolution Of Adam: What The Bible Does And Doesn't Say About Human
Origins", Theology and Science 10, no. 2 (2012): 215-217.

6THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
1. Give an account of soteriology. Why is it important to understand this concept for the
preaching of the gospel?
Soteriology is a very integral section of the Christian practice of theology. It deals with
the doctrine of salvation for the human body and soul.15 It is a pity to say that most men in the
world are the victims of the grave sins. This is why it is the role of the God to make way for
those people to seek the salvation. These people are suffering from a great plight and this has
become the most awful thing for their future. The entire mankind has to suffer because of the
sins they have committed. The common man in this society always expect to get a better society
and this has become one of the biggest issues.16
The new society is expected to bring the prosperity and peace to the society indeed.
However, in contrast to the needs and desires of the human beings, the entire world remains the
completely broken down with the sins being committed. The sins are committed by the people on
the local, national and international basis. However, God has the resolution to solve all the issues
that the human beings face in this world. These plans have been discussed and revealed in the
Bible itself. This plan for the betterment of the souls is called the salvation or Soteriology. This
term has been used widely in the Christian Scripture. It has a deeper meaning that leads the
human beings to attain the salvation in the proper methods. The meaning of the word salvation
stands for the situation in which the human beings get rid of the sins they have committed. He is
saved from the doom or ruin for which he could have been heading for.
15 David R. Purves, "Relating Kenosis To Soteriology: Implications For Christian Ministry Amongst
Homeless People", Horizons in Biblical Theology 35, no. 1 (2013): 70-90.
16 Joshua Bradley Davis and Douglas Karel Harink, Apocalyptic And The Future Of Theology(Eugene
(Or.): Cascade Books, 2012).

7THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
This can be considered as a pure blessing of God indeed. In return of salvaging the
human beings of all the sins, God always leads those human beings towards an eternal life. Thus
those men can be able to attain the eternal glory and a life where he can rejoice forever. In the
first place, it should be clarified that the word salvation comes from the word ‘soteria’ that is
derived from the root word ‘soter’. The meaning of this word is the savior. This means the God
saves all the human beings from the ruin and doom. Thus it becomes very meaningful when one
goes on to preach the Gospel to get rid of his sins and start living a religious life altogether.17
The word salvation brings to the mind the concepts of the preservation, healing of the
sins and restoration. Thus the human beings who preach the Gospel get back to a life where he or
she can attain the ultimate peace of mind. If the persons committing the sin later achieve the faith
in Gospel, they will surely get the redemption and reconciliation from all the sins indeed. His
repentance for committing the sins will lead him to the safe abode of God himself. The salvation
of the human beings denotes the purity and holiness of God Himself.
The salvation is received by the human beings through the grace of Jesus Christ. God will
provide the salvation to the human beings by the non-meritorious nature of his. God has always
provided the boon of salvation through the works of the person indeed. The God is holy and he
vows to spread this holiness among the human beings as well. The rebellious and violent nature
of the human beings has always created a barrier between the man and the God. The holiness of
God and His son Jesus Christ is infinite.18
17 Joshua Bradley Davis and Douglas Karel Harink, Apocalyptic And The Future Of Theology(Eugene
(Or.): Cascade Books, 2012).
18 Candy Gunther Brown, Testing Prayer (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2012).

8THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
This is why the people are cured of their sins in all the ways. In other religions except for
Christianity, all the people would have to work with peace and purity in mind to work properly.
God has showed the holiness and love for the people in distress. His holiness has always inspired
the human beings in the best ways indeed.19 The fellowship to God has been a much discussed
issue in this context. When the sinners get rid of their sins they achieve the abode of God and
they can very easily restore their fellowship to God. The Scripture has showed the ways to
salvage the persons from their sins. The persons whom God salvage are safe from all the harms.
Section D
12. Explain the eschatological significance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead for
us today?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a very inspiring chapter of the Bible. The factor of
eschatology is very important since it gives the hope to the minds of the human beings. If the
world eschatology can be divided two different words can be derived.20 These words are
‘eschatos’ and ‘logia’. The first word means ‘last’ and the later one means ‘collection of the
teachings’. Thus the word eschatology means the doctrines of the later or last days of the Christ.
The meaning and purpose of the word eschatology is the way to which the human life is directed
indeed. Thus the human beings who serve and have faith in God can be motivated in large
ways.21
It is also a fact that the human beings will look to be rebellious against God when they
come to know of their final judgment or the impending end. The two most states of the mind and
19 Jerry L. Martin, "Voegelin's Soteriology And Ours", SSRN Electronic Journal (2014).
20 Anthony C Thiselton, Life After Death (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub., 2012).
21 Alessandro Giostra, "Christian Eschatology And The Physical Universe - By David Wilkinson", Reviews
in Religion & Theology 19, no. 2 (2012): 259-261.

9THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
soul are hope and fear. These two states of the soul always control the action of the human
beings. The resurrection of God or Jesus Christ is kind of symbolic for the resurrection of the
mankind as well. This inspires a kind of faith in the minds of the human beings. The concept of
resurrection can be found in the two sections- the resurrection of the body and the resurrection of
the soul. In order to understand the concept of the resurrection of the spirit of the dead, one first
must be able to understand the death of the spirit. The death of the human beings depicts the
separation between the body and the soul. These things are revealed in the Scripture.22
It has been said when the God had created human beings out of the dust, he did not
possess the life like now. God had created the human beings from the dust of the earth and he
gave them the breath of life through their nostrils. Thus man became full of life and he possessed
a living soul. The death clearly expresses the view of the separation of the soul from the body.
This is why it is extremely important to understand the need to relevance of the spirit. The soul
or spirit is the gift of God to the human beings. When the human beings will die, the body will
mix with the dust where it came from. However, the spirit will go back to the God Himself
where it came from. The new resurrected body and souls of the human beings will still be theirs
but it will completely be transformed indeed.23
Jesus had declared in the Bible that he had paid the penalty for the sins committed by the
human beings. Jesus had been the most perfect son of the God. He took the responsibility of all
the sins upon his shoulder. The power and grace of the God is eternal.24 This is why the God will
like to plan the salvation for the human beings in all the cases. The punishment of all the sins
22 Alessandro Giostra, "Christian Eschatology And The Physical Universe - By David
Wilkinson", Reviews in Religion & Theology 19, no. 2 (2012): 259-261.
23 Thomas P Rausch, Eschatology, Liturgy, And Christology (Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2012).
24 Candy Gunther Brown, Testing Prayer (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2012).

10THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
was bestowed upon Him indeed. God had already planned the salvation for all the beings indeed.
This is why the God will surely help His son to come back again and direct His followers
towards a better future. On the third day after the Crucifixion, Jesus had arisen from the dead and
it was discovered in the cave where is dead body was being kept. It was a clear indication that
Christ had risen from his grave and He was there again to show the light of hope to the human
beings. The human beings should always believe in this truth and this truth is of utmost
importance to everyone.
It has been a clear idea of providing the hope to all the human beings to defeat the death
as their idol and the person to worship Jesus Christ had defeated it. This will boost up the
confidence of the human beings. It will be clear that Jesus Christ had been successful in backing
up His promise to come back and serve the mankind to save them from all the sins. Thus the fact
of eschatology has been implemented in a better way on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This has
proved that Jesus Christ possessed the power of defeating the death in the best ways. As the
Christ was able to rise from the death, the feat of death can be overcome indeed.

11THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
References
Anderson, William Angor. The Gospel Of Luke. Liguori, Mo.: Liguori Publications, 2012.
Brown, Candy Gunther. Testing Prayer. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2012.
Davis, Joshua Bradley, and Douglas Karel Harink. Apocalyptic And The Future Of Theology.
Eugene (Or.): Cascade Books, 2012.
Ehrman, Terrence Patrick. The Metaphysics Of The Resurrection, 2012.
Giostra, Alessandro. "Christian Eschatology And The Physical Universe - By David
Wilkinson". Reviews in Religion & Theology 19, no. 2 (2012): 259-261.
Jong, Jonathan. "Peter Enns. The Evolution Of Adam: What The Bible Does And Doesn't Say
About Human Origins". Theology and Science 10, no. 2 (2012): 215-217.
Manganyi, Jele Samuel. Church And Society, 2012.
Martin, Jerry L. "Voegelin's Soteriology And Ours". SSRN Electronic Journal (2014).
Oliver, Simon, and Karen Kilby. Faithful Reading. London: Continuum International Pub., 2012.
Panteleimon. Eternal Mysteries Beyond The Grave. Chicago: Holy Trinity Publications, 2012.
Peels, Rik. "Does Evolution Conflict With God's Character?". Modern Theology(2018).
Purves, David R. "Relating Kenosis To Soteriology: Implications For Christian Ministry
Amongst Homeless People". Horizons in Biblical Theology 35, no. 1 (2013): 70-90.
Rausch, Thomas P. Eschatology, Liturgy, And Christology. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press,
2012.