Epistemology and Theology

1. What is epistemology?

The word epistemology is the combination of two Greek words: first, episteme, which means knowledge, understanding and the second word, is logos which mean to study.  Epistemology is the major branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief. It analyzes the nature of knowledge and how it relates to similar notions such as truth, belief and justification. It also deals with the means of production of knowledge, as well as skepticism about different knowledge claims. It is essentially about issues having to do with the creation and dissemination of knowledge in particular areas of inquiry. It questions what knowledge is and how it can be acquired, and the extent to which knowledge pertinent to any given subject or entity can be acquired.

2. What topics are covered in epistemology?                                                                                           Epistemological topics:

Epistemology comprise the systematic study of the nature, sources, and validity of knowledge. It differs from logic and psychology.

 Logic is concerned with the specific formal problem of correct reasoning, whereas Epistemology deals with the nature of reasoning, with truth, and with the process of knowing themselves.

Psychology is concerned primarily with a descriptive study of behavior, phenomena, and the like, whereas Epistemology deals with by knowing.

Rationalism, Empiricism and Fideism are the regarded topics in the epistemology. Rationalism,  believes that some ideas or concepts are independent and that some truth is known by reason alone or it is the main source of  knowledge. Empiricism, believes that all ideas or concepts derive from experience and that truth must be established by reference to experience alone. Fideism, according to Alvin Plantinga, Fideism, can be defined as an “exclusive or basic reliance upon faith alone, accompanied by a consequent disparagement of reason and utilized especially in the pursuit of philosophical or religious truth. Corresponding, Plantinga writes, a fideist is someone who “urge reliance on faith rather than reason in matters philosophical and  religious” and who may go on to disparage and denigrate reason.   

3. How The Epistemology Important For Theology?

Theology is systematic and rational study of concepts of God and of the nature of religious truth. When one deals with such concepts like rationality or truth, actually he is dealing with the epistemological issues the part of philosophy. Thus epistemology help us with answers such questions arise in theological study like, how we know God, what we know about God?  Epistemological approaches to theological knowledge will kindly  entail a much wider consideration of the subject than often emerge within evangelical thinking.  Jesus commanded His followers to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matt 6:33). The most common application of this command has been to encourage individuals to seek God, to gain a personal knowledge of God. Paul defines this as a transforming knowledge. (Rom 12:2). The church is involved because it is the place where this knowledge is shared, passing the traditions on from generation to generation. Also, throughout history the church has preserved the primary source of knowledge, the Scriptures. Even so, the epistemological emphasis has been on the individual accepting the truth. Therefore, building one’s theological ground epistemology is important.