Theological reflection is an integral way to stimulate personal wisdom. These reflections based upon theological concepts facilitate the formation of faith and personal beliefs in one’s life (Gros & Gros, 2002). When we read Bible, our socialization, cultural values, life experiences, and academic level helps us to understand biblical concepts and reflect upon them. The theological reflections are incomplete without integrating life experiences and personal views. This short journal entry tends to analyze the major components of theological reflections which are experience, reflection, and response.
There are different models/ procedures for conducting theological reflections. All these different procedures and models have three major components. The major concept that I have encountered in my personal experience so far is that theological reflection requires experience, reflection, and response. Experience is a significant component in understanding theological concepts and Biblical scriptures. Theological reflections help us to understand how God has conveyed his teachings in Bible through implicating our own life experiences.
For instance, these biblical verses state “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, And those who sow trouble harvest it. By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end”. (Job 4:8 )(13 Bible Verses about Experience, Of Life, n.d.). These biblical verses can be easily comprehended by implicating them in our personal lives. These respective verses appeal to us because they are including an experiential event to which we can easily relate. Whenever a person commits a wrong action, hurts someone, or brings trouble to someone, he or she may never flourish. That person will always be deprived of happiness and prosperity. If we commit a troublesome action or have unequal behavior with anyone, we will never flourish in life. The theological reflection on this biblical verse firms my faith and believe in doing well with others. I can easily understand God’s message by implicating it in my personal experiences. The theological reflection on this biblical verse incorporates life experience. We can easily contemplate this biblical scripture by involving experience, reflection, and response. The one thing that I have understood in this article is the significance of personal experiences in theological reflections and the formation of faith.
The concept which I could not easily grasp is about the critical lenses which are required to incorporate the contemporary models of theological reflections. There are two critical lenses that are mentioned in this article. These two lenses help us to critically analyze our life experiences in terms of theological concepts. One lens uses personal experiences and faith. The other lens uses cultural norms and values to critically analyze the theological concepts. However, vague information is provided for the incorporation of these critical lenses. One lens reflects general views which are molded by cultural values. On the other hand, the other critical lens uses personal views which vary from individual to individual. These two lenses cannot reflect upon theological concepts. Our judgmental views, different personal experiences, and cultural dissimilarities can easily hamper these theological reflections. For instance, if a person with a secular point of view conducts a theological reflection, he or she will never be able to achieve the crux of these theological reflections. We cannot understand Bible with these two critical lenses. This concept requires more knowledge and research. This article does not shed light upon these complications which can take place while conducting these reflections.
In a nutshell, theological reflections enable us to associate our life experiences with theological concepts and divine teachings.
References
13 Bible verses about Experience, Of Life. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Experience%2C+of+life
Gros, J., & Gros, J. (2002). Theological reflection: Connecting faith and life. Loyola Press ; National Conference for Catechetal Leadership.
What is theological reflection? A Guide from the Rev. Dr. Richard Dickey. (2006). Retrieved January 20, 2022, from https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/1101/documents/youth%20ministry/Theological_Reflection_Handbook_Section_R_Dickey.pdf
