Review of: Larchet J.-C. Chto takoye Bogosloviye? Metodologiya pravoslavnogo bogosloviya v yego praktike i prepodavanii [What is Theology? Methodology of Orthodox Theology in its Practice and Teaching]

ed. N. Petukhova, O. Arsenyeva, S. Chernov, U. Rakhnovskaya, P. Dobrotsvetov, M. Vdovichenko, A. Vavilova, V. Lepakhin, hierod. John (Akhmatkhanov), S. Kuznetsov; scientific. ed. P. Dobrotsvetov. Moscow: Palomnik, 2021 (in Russian). 175 p. ISBN 978-5-87468-136-4

Abstract

One of the fundamental works on the methodology of modern theology is Method in Theology (1972) by the Canadian Catholic theologian B. Lonergan which has been translated into Russian and is still virtually the only work which considers in detail the specifics of the theological method. Not surprisingly, even in Western theology, the theological method continues to be a subject of discussion rather than a recommendation for how theology should be dealt with. A telling example is P. Allen's book Theological Method: A Guide for Doubters, in which the author also admits that practising the methodology of theology seems to many like "trying to sharpen a knife without any desire to use it". From this it becomes clear that J.-C. Larcher's book "What is theology? The methodology of Orthodox theology in its practice and teaching" is interesting not only because it is a unique phenomenon in itself, but also because it offers an excellent opportunity to open a discussion about the methodology of Orthodox theology in Russia.