Dogmatic theology is the belief in absolute truth established by the Christian faith, spread through tradition and historical data. It is a science of objective faith through collected data, sanctioned by organized theological bodies. The study of theology requires advanced education and is a continuous formation for priests and faithful.
Dogmatic theology is a belief in an absolute truth that has been established by the Christian faith. This means that the Church has presented certain truths that have been spread through word of mouth, tradition, and historical data, and followers of the Church must accept it as a fundamental truth. Examples of this are the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption of Mother Mary and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Empirical data, or facts that have been physically experienced and recorded, are usually the accepted norm in scientific study. In dogmatic theology, facts and figures are more fluid because most written historical references are supported by the word-of-mouth tradition. What is accepted and practiced in this field of study is that God has given humans a concept, a truth or a miracle. Learned individuals such as priests may study it for moral improvement or guidance.
Dogmatic theology is sanctioned by an organized theological body. Some of the most recognized organized theological bodies are the Roman Catholic Church and the Dutch Reformed Church. It is also commonly associated as a science with the concept of God and his works as an object of study. As a scientific field of study, dogmatic theology is the science of objective faith through collected data; Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican priest who became a saint, summarized that the data collected are principles revealed by God. These principles serve as the foundation of sacred science, meaning that just as a student accepts a fact taught in class, a person who studies dogmatic theology should accept the fact as taught by God.
Theology is still taught in elementary and high school in a number of select schools around the world. For a more advanced study of theology, students will need to have taken courses in philosophy and theology. The next advancement in the study of theology will be to become a deacon, where a student will earn a bachelor’s degree in theology. The last stage of study would be to become a fully ordained priest.
For priests and faithful, learning theology is a continuous formation. Some priests still read the published works of the Rev. Francis Hall, a dogmatic theology professor, and the Rev. Joseph Pohle, a philosophy professor, to create their own written works to teach their parishioners. Parishioners and faithful, in turn, teach what they have learned to the next generation, which propagates a cycle of learning the Christian faith.
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