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Sacred theology studies divine revelations in religious texts like the Bible or Koran. It applies to various religions, but typically refers to Christianity. An MA in Sacred Theology requires a master’s degree and is used to broaden theological knowledge. Different branches of Christianity have additional sacred texts, while Judaism focuses on the Old Testament. Students must have a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts degree before pursuing an MST or LST, respectively.
Sacred theology, in its most basic sense, is the study of divine revelations, especially those found in texts such as the Bible or the Koran. While it can apply to a number of religions including Islam, Judaism, and Mormonism, it typically refers to Christianity. An MA in Sacred Theology is available to anyone who has already earned a master’s degree and is looking to broaden their theological knowledge.
Christianity first applied the word “sacred” to theology to distinguish it from secular theology. The word sacred is used in both the Old and New Testaments to mean people, places, or things that are holy and separate. Those who practice Sacred Theology truly believe in what they study.
The study of secular theology became established in the 1960s. He added Altizer’s Death of God theology and Kierkegaard’s existentialism to the study of the divine. Reconstructionist Judaism is a branch of secular theology that combines traditional Judaism with Deweyan naturalism.
Most Christians accept only the Holy Bible as a subject for Sacred Theology. Some branches of Christianity, however, have additional sacred texts. For example, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints considers the Book of Mormon to be divinely inspired.
The main sacred writings of Islam are the Quran and the Hadith. Sacred theology for a Muslim would be the study of these texts by those who believe them to be true. Some people would also include various visions and parts of the Bible.
Judaism uses sacred theology to better understand the Old Testament, referred to by Jews as Torah, Writings, and Prophets. They believe that God revealed his words to Moses and the prophets, who recorded them for future generations. Traditional Jews believe that the Old Testament is the only divinely inspired book.
Students must already have a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts degree in a theological field before working on a Master of Sacred Theology (MST). Many people use the MST to prepare for work on a PhD, especially if they haven’t completed a major research project with their first Master’s. The program is an additional 36 hours of coursework, including a thesis or major research project.
In the Catholic tradition, the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (LST) takes the place of the MST. The studies are built in a purely Catholic context. The LST is the progressing second degree for Catholic students, between a bachelor’s and a doctorate.
