Theologia tripartita

Theologia tripartita (Latin: "tripartite theology") is (a term not documented in ancient texts) for the distinction between mythical ones, which was already formed by Plato (Nomoi) and Aristotle (Metaphysics XII, 8 1074a38-b14) and developed further by the Stoic Panaitios , philosophical and state religion . With this theory one tried to cover the spectrum of religion in the ancient world according to the areas of mythology, critical philosophy and the common good serving public cult.

In his writings on the ancient Roman religion, Marcus Terentius Varro formulates a scheme of theologia tripartita that distinguishes three types of theology ( genera theologiae ): the mythical of the poets ( theologia mythica ), the physical of the philosophers ( theologia naturalis ) and the state ( theologia civilis) ). This theory met with severe criticism from Augustine (especially in De civitate dei VI, 5-10. 12).

In the early modern period, Giambattista Vico (Scienza nuova, no. 366) tried to revitalize the idea by merging mythical and political theology and placing philosophical and Christian (ie, revealed) theology in front of it.

literature

• Godo Lieberg : The theologia tripartita as a formal principle of ancient thought. In: Rheinisches Museum 125 (1982), pp. 25–53.
• Roland Kany : Art. Theologia tripartita . In: Lexicon for Theology and Church , 3rd edition [LThK³], ed. by Walter Kasper , Vol. 9 (2000), Col. 1434-1435.
• Jörg Rüpke : The religion of the Romans. An introduction. Munich: CH Beck 2001, pp. 121-125.
• Markus Enders : Art. Theologia. In: Christoph Horn / Christof Rapp (ed.): Dictionary of ancient philosophy (Beck'sche series 1483). Munich: CH Beck 2002, Sp. 433a-434b.