A systematic theological inquiry into the role of rationality in Dogmatics

Abstract

This study examines the role of rationality in Dogmatics. It offers us a wider understanding of the mental faculties from where rationality emanates as given to human beings by God. This study argues from the theological understanding of the image of God. Carey Latta (2018) argues that the image of God is the doctrinal tenet by which Christians understand what it means to be human. Tertullian argued that the image of God is the state of being relating to humanity's form, while in the Patristic period the argument was that of human reasoning (McGrath, 2007:360-361). The argument that Tertullian offered about the Patristic period values the image of God by arguing on human reasoning, which involves rationality. It is also clear that what this period offered was the rational nature of humanity by referring to human reasoning (cf. McGrath, 2007:143-144). However, this study argues that the brain is central in processing theology; theology depends on a functional and competent brain.