WOT Talk

weboftheology — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:27:08 +0000

This blog discusses everything WOT. What is WOT? It is an acronym for “Web of Theology,” the cool new theological assessment tool. You can check it out here:

Web of Theology

Current Topics: WOT & Tolerance, Relavant-ism not Relativism

WOT Tolerance

weboftheology — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:34:31 +0000

The Web of Theology is a great tool to help bring people together and to help create tolerance. Intolerance is not a product of “difference,” it is a product of FEAR. And fear is the result of not knowing, or trusting, the “other.” Tools like the Web of Theology help us understand ourself and the other in a deep and productive way. This is why it works great for relationship building activities, like Bible Study groups.

Relevant-ism, Not Relativism

weboftheology — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:48:24 +0000

One of the initial criticisms of the Web of Theology was that it encouraged theological relativism. Some people find it strange that people could think so differently on so many theological issues when we have only ONE Bible and ONE God. Another angle on this angst is: Why is there so much diversity when there is only ONE Truth and ONE God and ONE Bible that calls us all to UNITY?

Although the Web of Theology exposes this diversity, the tool does not create it. In fact, tools like the Web of Theology are crucial in our efforts to create unity. In order to overcome differences we must first understand exactly WHAT those differences are and WHY others believe them. The Web of Theology assess both “what” we believe and, to a large extent, “why” we believe these things. As we understand ourselves and others more and more, we learn which beliefs are central to our disagreements and which are secondary. The Web of Theology does not suggest that all of the differing opinions are equally “right,” as relativism suggests. Rather, the WOT provides the data necessary to overcome our differences. It is not “relativism,” it is “relevant-ism.”