Sociology or Theology?

Opps!!  I just realized that I was looking at my research paper as a sociologist, not as a theologian.  I was seeking to explain the reason and approaches of different attitudes on society or psychology.  Now I see that this is an opportunity to change my lens! (Again!) With my background in Behavioral Science and the consulting work I have done in corporations in implementing change and working with the human side of that equation, I have a usual pattern of explaining the impact of change on people and systems.  Although the social science ideas can point our theology discussion in a useful direction, theology looks critically at religious beliefs

Sociology lens would ask “How did I get to be my brother’s keeper?” The sociologist wants to know how did this happen. The model of Marvin Harris can be used to see that this is not such a simple path, but one of an impact of multiple elements which may have eventually become a religious dogma that requires taking care of your brother.  That may appear to be the emic explanation, as the group describes its role. However, from the etic (more objective) perspective, it is perhaps the way the group survives. 

A theological question would be “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Here we are exploring our relationship not so much with our role in society, but that with the divine. 

How do I know it’s true? Now we get into the epistemology!  I actually love the simplicity of “because the Bible tells me so.” Now that scholars have been and are sorting out the pieces of manuscripts that were used to compile “the book”, the Bible may be to some just a bunch of cut and paste losing any validity. When I realize that these pieces of writings were carefully preserved in jars, survived hundreds of years, were important enough to be copied over and over for thousands of years, and were not even the actual writings in the first person but, in fact, really the ideas and memories of the author, I get even more interested!  These writings can be added to my circle of faith as I explore questions such as “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Now we are into theology!