Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 78

54

§ 35.

§ 34.

RESULT Its

[Div. I

Aim

Encyclopedia is in itself purely Since Theology belongs to the organism of sciscientific. ence, the Encyclopedic impulse itself compels the investigation of this part also of the great organism of science, in

The aim

of Theological

we may know it in its organic coherence and relaThis is its philosophical aim. But its aim is equally strong to bring Theology itself to self-consciousness. No more than any other science did Theology begin with knowPractical interests, necessity and uning what it Avanted. it to its development. But with brought impulse conscious order that

tion.

cannot remain satisfied. For its own honor's sake, Theology also must advance with steady steps to know itself, and to give itself an account of its nature and its calling.

this

This

it

is

whole

the more necessary since in our times Theology as a

is

no longer studied by any one, and since the several

theologians choose for themselves but a part of the great task. Thus every sense of relation is lost, and a writer in one

department infringes continually upon the rights of the others, unless the sense of the general task of Theology becomes and remains quickened. In the third place, the aim of Encyclopedia of Theology is defensive or apologetic. Much presents itself as Theology with the assumption of the right to translate real Theology into that which is no TheolThe conflict which arises from this may not be left to ogy. chance, but must be decided scientifically, and this cannot

And take place until Theology fixes its scientific standard. finally its aim in the fourth place is, for the sake of nontheologians,

who must

nevertheless deal with Theology, to

declare, in scientifically connected terms, § 35.

As

the result of the above

what Theology

is.

Result it is

evident that the conception

of Theological Encyclopedia consists in the scientific investiga-

and relations of Theology in itself an integral part of the organism of science. As such forms a subdivision of general Encyclopedia, and with it

tion of the organic nature

and it

as

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