Wednesday

Defining and mapping words and concepts

The process of seminary education relies on two steps: defining vocabulary and mapping the connections between the words/concepts. Theology, in the above diagram, for instance, sits "atop" many related areas of inquiry.
How we understand God (theology) affects how we understand human beings and cultures (anthropology). It affects how we understand the church (ecclesiology), christology, eschatology, etc.
"Theology" could also be divided into different sorts/branches/approaches: systematic, contextual, dogmatic, biblical . . . It is important to understand the distinctions, presuppositions, similarities, and how each relates to the other.

Every seminary academic discipline has a unique vocabulary to be defined and mapped: biblical studies, pastoral care, missiology, church history, christian formation, etc.
Reading, writing, and listening helps you to define, create, develop and refine your "maps." The more sophisticated your maps become, the smoother your navigation. Look for lists, charts, and grids that will help you organize the information you are learning.