With Gregory Nazianzen’ description of the nature of theology in the background, do you think a scholar can be addressed as a theologian of a religion he/she does not practice?


With Gregory Nazianzen’ description of the nature of theology in the background, do you think a scholar can be addressed as a theologian of a religion he/she does not practice?
Theology for Gregory is to philosophise about God. But it does not belong to everyone to philosophise about God. It is permitted to only those who have been examined and are masters in meditation, purified I soul and body or at least are being purified. It is permitted to only those who take the subject matter of theology serious. It is only when one knows God that one can speak about God and apprehend the truth. Thus, to know God, there must be conversion and purity.
A theologian is someone going through the process of conversion. Conversion is not just a pre-requisite, it is a guide to theology. Theologizing about God also involves acting (living relationship).
Thus, given the above, a scholar cannot be addressed as a scholar he/she does not practice because, although a scholar may have eloquence and understanding of something in the religion, these are not sufficient to speak about God. Speech about God requires knowledge of God, eloquence, conversion and purity as necessary conditions. It requires constant conversion expressed in three ways
a.       Intellectual conversion- geared towards the truth.
b.      Moral conversion- towards the good
c.       Spiritual conversion- comprising intellectual and moral.
Hence, if a scholar cannot fulfil these requirements, he/she cannot speak about God. A theologian is always on his knees when doing theology.

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