Research Paper
An Internet Guide for Theological Studies Major Internet Portals https://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/website-on-religion/ - Wabash Center Guide to Internet Resources for Teaching and Learning In Theology and Religion. Excellent site with very well chosen links. Good information that is of high quality. http://www.users.csbsju.edu/~eknuth/itr/index.html - Internet Theology Resources, by School of Theology Major Areas (St. Johns School of Theology – Seminary). Catholic emphasis - terrific for church fathers and other theologians of the past, often by theological subject. http://www.ccel.org/ - Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Texts of classic Christian books. https://theologicalstudies.org.uk/ - Theological Studies.Org.UK – A portal for bibliographies and journal articles/book sections in theology. Not comprehensive, but useful. http://www.religion-online.org/ - Religion-Online.org. Collection of books and scholarly articles on religion, theology and theologians. Major strength is scholarly articles by well known academics. http://virtualreligion.net/vri/ - Virtual Religion Network: The Christian Tradition. Excellent for historical theology and connections between theology and biblical studies. Reference Sources http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/ - The Catholic Encyclopedia (1908). Very good, dated. http://bible.crosswalk.com/Dictionaries/BakersEvangelicalDictionary/ - Excellent resource – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology (1996), also published in print. Guide to Using our Library - http://libguides.twu.ca/library_research/home.
Possible Research Paper Topics
These are only suggested topics and readings to get you started. You do not have to use these titles or even these readings, but you are welcome to use them.
The questions given after the topics are not outlines for your paper and would likely be poor outlines.
Make sure you clearly present your thesis statement (be specific, don’t generalize) and that your whole paper is somehow working to support your thesis (this includes considering ideas opposed to your thesis).
I welcome the opportunity to discuss your paper with you. 1. Theological Heresy Paper Choose one heresy that has been discussed in class, readings, or one with which you are
familiar. Consider the following questions (and others you find appropriate):
What is this heresy? When did this heresy arise in history? Why did the heretics make this assertion? Why did the Church at that time label this belief a heresy? What theological issues are at stake/ what are some of the theological implications of this
heresy? What are the orthodox beliefs that contrast with this heresy?
2. Historical Theology Paper Doctrine/theology always arises in a historical context. Choose a time period/person and a doctrine to study. Discuss (among other relevant issues):
Who were some of the key players? What were/are the theological issues discussed/at stake and how were they resolved? What problems made this/these theologian(s) address this issue? What is your own take on this theological issue?
3. Theological Traditions Paper Choose a topic and compare and contrast two theological traditions on the topic (e.g., Roman
Catholics and Baptists on Baptism). Be sure you clearly describe each theological position and the theological reasons for it. You should also make clear what your own position is on the theological issue under
discussion. 4. A General Theological Research Paper or a Theological Response Paper Choose one of the paper topics below. You may wish to start with my suggested reading and focus on the broad issue, creating your
own dialogue and thesis, or you may wish to make your paper a response to one of the readings that are listed with a * .
If you do a response paper, be sure to clearly describe the position you are critiquing before you critique it (both strengths and weaknesses). CHURCH o “Models of the Church” –Is there one appropriate structure for the Church?
o Start with Miroslav Volf, After His Likeness, ch 6 or Dulles o “The Trinitarian Basis for Christian Mission”
o Why do mission? What is the goal? etc. o Start with John Thompson, Modern Trinitarian Perspectives, chapter 4 “The Triune
God and Mission”. JESUS o “Spirit Christology” – How does Jesus’ relationship with the Spirit affect one’s
Christology? o What implications might it have for Christian living? o Start with Clark Pinnock, Flame of Love, chapter 3 “Spirit and Christology”.
o “Kenotic Christology” – What are some of the implications that Jesus was truly God and yet truly human?
o Can we speak of a ‘kenosis’ of God? o Start with Russell Aldwinckle, More Than Man, chapter 7 “Kenosis or Divine Self
Limitation”. SALVATION o “Interpreting the Meaning of the Cross” – What did the cross achieve?
o Explore and critique one of the atonement theories (moral influence, penal substitution/satisfaction, Christ the Victor).
o Start with Han Boersma, Violence, Hospitality, and the Cross or Gustaf Aulén, Christus Victor.
o “Who does God Elect?” (or something else from the 5 points of Calvinism, TULIP) o Start with Robert Peterson & Michael Williams, Why I am not an Arminian or Jerry
Walls & Joseph Dongell, Why I am not a Calvinist. ESCHATOLOGY o “When Will Jesus Return?” – Explore the significance of either the rapture or millenium
debates. o What significance do they have? o What factors lead to the various interpretations regarding this idea (or one
interpretation of it)? o Start with (any chapter) Robert Clouse, The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views,
or Craig Blaising, Kenneth Gentry, & Robert Strimple, Three Views on the Millennium or Craig Hill, In God’s Time: The Bible and the Future, “Appendix: Not Left Behind”.
o “Is Hell Eternal?” –What is the nature of hell? o What are the theological or practical implications? o Eternal conscious punishment? o Start with William Crockett (any chapter), For Views on Hell.
5. Contemporary/Pastoral Theological Issues Paper Choose one of the topics below. You may wish to start with my suggested reading and focus on the broad issue creating your own dialogue and thesis, or you may wish to make your paper a response to one of the readings that are listed. Begin by describing what theological issues are at stake and how this is the case (e.g., soteriology, doctrine of God, etc.). In your paper you will likely want to include various proposals that might be possible and how/why you would critique or agree with these possible proposals. You should conclude with (and your thesis statement should be) your own theological response to this issue. SALVATION o “Can Babies Be ‘Saved’?” – How have theologians discussed infant salvation?
o What doctrines are important in this discussion? o Start with Terrance Tiessen, Who Can be Saved? Chapter 10 “Can Infants be Saved?”.
o “Christ and the Other Religions” – Is it possible to be saved by Christ but be a part of another religion? o Start with Dennis Okholm & Timothy Phillips, Four Views on Salvation in a
Pluralistic World (any chapter). o “The Cross and Violence” – Does the central place that the cross plays in Christian
soteriology (i.e., we are saved through violence) perpetuate violence in society or in the Christian community?
o What role does violence have in salvation? o Start with Hans Boersma, Violence, Hospitality, and the Cross and Miroslav Volf,
Exclusion and Embrace. CHURCH o “Theological Reasons For/Against the Ordination of Women”
o What are the theological arguments people make in favor of or against the ordination of women?
o Evaluate and critique these, making clear which side of the debate you fall on and why.
o There are now at least 3 ‘views’ books on women in ministry (be careful that your paper remains a theology paper as explained above).
ESCHATOLOGY o “A Theological Evaluation of the Left Behind Series”
o Begin by outlining the theology implicit/explicit in the Left Behind books. o Critique this theology (or one aspect of the theologies) using theological resources
and arguments. o there are a number of articles/essays written responding to these books, but do not
neglect the books that provide the substance of any critique; i.e., works on eschatology in general.
Some General Topics Aslan and Atonement: Lewis and Theories of the Atonement Can God Be Known Through Contemplative Prayer?: An Examination of
Christian Mysticism and its Biblical Roots Freewill: Truth or Illusion. A Study of The Adjustment Bureau The Joint Declaration on Justification: A Betrayal of Justification by Faith? Would Calvin Agree with the Synod of Dordt? Emergent Christianity: Postmodern Contextualization or Accommodation? Is Free Will Theism Orthodox? Karl Barth, Why the Resurgence? Does Thomas Aquinas Prove that the Christian God Exists? Images of the Incarnate God: On the Use of Icons in Christian Worship Does Mystery Have a Place in Evangelical Theology? Was Augustine a Calvinist? Freedom in Christ: Wesley’s Theology of Christian Perfectionism Open vs. Classical Theism Theology as “Faith Seeking Understanding”
The Bible: Inerrant or Infallible? Heaven Tourism: An Evaluation of Christian Near Death Experiences Sola Fide and Antinomianism What Can Evangelicals Learn from Emergent Christianity? Gnosticism and Evangelicalism The Place of the Creeds in Christian Theology Today Bible: Inerrant vs. Infallible Atonement: Penal Substitutionary vs. Christus Victor Baptism: Infant vs. Believer Creation: Young Earth vs. Theistic Evolution Eschatology: Premillennialism vs. Amillennialism God: Classical Theism vs. Open Theism Intermediate State: Soul Sleep vs. Consciousness Salvation: Freewill vs. Predestination Salvation: Eternal security vs. Conditional security Tongues: Cessationism vs. Continuationism Hell: Eternal Conscious Torment vs. Annihilationism