Approaches and Methods in Systematic Theology

Theologians construct theories based on limited evidence, this is interpreted by readers and other theologians, who then in turn create a narrative. Therefore theology is narrative based on "imaginative construction". This is an interesting point. While some theologians buy into the narrative theology position, some such as Hans Frei reject the "imaginative construction" element because the term "imaginative" makes them nervous. Thus Frei put forward 5 types of theology, with type one being from the "outside" and Type 5 being from "within" and rejecting all contemporary world views, with 3 types in the middle, filling in the range of the spectrum. Type 5 is sometimes labelled fundamentalist but isn't necessarily so. I find Frei's 5 types interesting. Surely, if post modern theology rejects objectivity as impossible, if not dangerous, then all post modern theology is type 5, and the other four should be rejected. Yet it seems to me that post modern CHRISTIAN theology is actually type 4 in that it starts from within the Christian postition and expounds on this, without actually rejecting other world views. Therefore is Frei correct in his categorisation. Surely a more fluid approach is required as often theology can be a mixture of approaches, especially theology from the more pragmatic authors.