Meaning and Cultural Questions in Theology and Anthropology

Meaning and Purpose of Theology

Theology is useful for life.

First, the aim of this subject is to encounter the person; it cannot be reduced to merely technical knowledge. Second, when the person is reached, this affects everything they do, including their work.

Goals that this subject aims to achieve:

• The study of theology seeks, as a primary objective, to attain the truth and the meaning of life revealed in Jesus Christ.
• In some cases it involves at least considering existence itself, enabling reflection on the questions that arise and on the responses with which we have hitherto lived.
• To understand the society in which we live: our Western society is built around two pillars — the Greco-Roman tradition and Christianity — so many moral, social, political, and organizational structures are drawn from these two traditions.

Cultural Dimensions of Anthropological Questions

The human being, from the earliest moments of history, has always raised existential questions. The responses have been diverse. Human beings need truth. These concerns, across cultures, are what we call recurrent.

For example, those inclined to metaphysics may mention the problem of the One and the Many, noting that this issue was discussed repeatedly in many cultures. We can also consider the problem of God. If one is told that interest in this problem is not a prominent feature of contemporary philosophy, then one can point to the problem of human freedom. This problem has recurred on numerous occasions and is still subject to discussion.

Another recurring problem is whether values are simply relative or whether they are absolute in any sense — whether there is a universal moral law. On the other hand, there is the question of human survival. There have been very different visions of humankind and very different anthropological views.

Clearly, in a basic sense we all know the answer to the question "What is man?" That is, everyone can describe humans and distinguish them from elephants. But when it comes to responding to the question in depth, there have been many different descriptions, each emphasizing different aspects.

An examination of ancient history shows clearly how, in different parts of the earth and marked by different cultures, the same fundamental questions arise: Who am I? Where do I come from and where am I going? Why is there evil? What is there after this life? The answers given to such questions depend on the orientation that is given to existence.