Date of Publication

2004

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education Major in Religious Education and Values Education

Subject Categories

Religious Education

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Theology and Religious Education

Thesis Adviser

Arnold T. Monera

Defense Panel Chair

Dominador Bombongan

Defense Panel Member

Daniel Kroger Jaime Belita Lydia Marave Carol Fallarme

Abstract/Summary

The classical definition of theology has been Fides quaerens intellectu or faith seeking understanding. The problem with this perception of theology is that faith often loses contact with hope. Most theologians agree that fides, spes et caritas are all a piece. Hence, no believer can fully appreciate one without reference to the other. In practice, however, these three different but complimentary approaches often go their own separate ways, leading to three distinct disciplines that rarely interact with another: morality, theology, and eschatology. By far the most neglected of these three is hope or eschatology which is often considered to be a harmless tract located at the end of dogmatics or systematic theology. Despite the neglect that eschatology has suffered, the belief on the end-times is a central doctrine of Christianity. Thus, as human beings cherish the past, take on the challenges of the present, and yearn for the fulfillment of Gods promises in the future, eschatology as hope seeking understanding should be allowed to complement their efforts of faith and love seeking understanding and vice-versa. But this can only be achieved if eschatology is retrieved from the margins and brought once more to the center of both theology and religious education. Such undertaking clearly behooves both theology and religious education to revisit once more the biblical traditions. For Scriptures not only advocate the centrality of eschatology, but it is in these written traditions of the faith that one finds Jesus vision for the future of Gods people. This task although commonly held to be proper to theology, is also a charge for those engaged in religious education. In their efforts to make the faith-life of those whom they minister living, conscious, and active through the light of instruction, religious educators must advocate a Christian faith that is inspired and open to the future as reflected in the scriptural word of God. Such is the intent of this research. It was written with the purpose of bringing into the fore the eschatological dimension of the Christian faith, and assists fellow religious educators in their efforts to live and teach the Christian vision for the future. Be that as it may, it is not the aim of this investigation to offer a comprehensive exposition on eschatology; its goal is far more modest, i.e., to arrive at a better appreciation of the end-time doctrine as it is proposed in the First Gospel (Mt 24:1-31). In grappling with this difficult Matthean teaching, the study revolves around three fundamental problems: How is eschatology understood in the text? What are the theological themes to be inferred from Matthews understanding of the end times? What is the relevance of this biblical investigation for religious educators in the Philippine setting? To resolve the foregoing issues, the researcher deems it proper to employ the historical-critical method, which together with the other controlling elements, are expressly taken up in chapter one. These concerns, however, not only delineate the parameters of the study; they also determine the organization of the inquiry. Hence, by investigating the features of the First Gospel in general and its situation in life, chapter two situates the Matthean perspective of hope in the context of a particular environment Chapter three takes up the discourse itself. In this section, important terms and phrases which are essential in the overall interpretation of the text are clarified. Chapter four investigates the relationship and arrangement of the linguistic signs employed by Matthew to express his end-time vision. And, chapter five concludes the study by looking into the significance of the text to Christian living as well as the relevance of the inquiry itself to professional religious educators in the Philippine setting. Overall, the subject of inquiry may appear to be technical and sophisticated. If may be so. Yet, from the proponents perspective, everything written on the pages of this modest investigation simply points to this one simple thing: human beingswhether they know it or not, whether they reflect on it or not, are always and everywhere, oriented and directed to that ineffable mysteryGod.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTG003845

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

1 computer optical disc ; 4 3/4 in.

Keywords

Religious educators; Eschatology; Future life--Christianity.

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