Because of its special theological character, the Gospel According to John was considered in ancient times to be the "spiritual Gospel," and it wielded a profound and lasting influence on the development of early Christian doctrine.
The New Testament also depicts Jesus as standing and walking in Heaven, but the Session of Christ has special theological significance because of its connection to the role of Christ as King.
In addition to ample empirical data that execution rarely affords closure for victims' families, Christians have special theological reasons to be concerned about the myth of closure through murder, state sanctioned or otherwise.
In fact, requiring no special training, theological studies or exhausting practice, gratitude might be the ultimate spiritual practice.
When religion is intellectualized, it alienates religion from the laity, makes them dependent upon a special class of theological experts, and, further, casts the appearance that it is through what one believes vs. how one lives that one finds salvation (cf Bxxx-xxxii, 6 180-190, 7 36-69).
To the degree that special missionary, pedagogical, scholarly-theological, and ecclesiastically political tasks of the orders increased in the West, the character of ancient monasticism originally focused completely on prayer, meditation, and contemplation receded more and more in importance.
Christ in Theology (1851) amplified and defended his attitude toward theological language, giving special attention to metaphoric language and to an instrumental view of the Trinity.
Wherever he went Socinus conducted his theological inquiries, with special concern for the sacraments, grace, predestination, resurrection of the body, repentance, and the doctrinal basis of the original gospel.
None of it makes much "scientific" or even theological sense, but the special energy of the horse is an undeniable fact.
Just as in the case of religions themselves, so also their theological reflections are not limited to a special religious sphere, separated from common life.
Readings of Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise seek to situate Dante's work within the intellectual and social context of the late Middle Ages, with special attention paid to political, philosophical and theological concerns.
