ABSTRACT
Christian theology has, of course, origins that go back to the very beginnings of the Christian faith. Prior to the Middle Ages, theology was studied by scholars and monks, mainly in monastic settings. In a Christian university the Faith was the ultimate norm, and all other subjects were expected to serve and find their telos in theology. The foundation of the University of Berlin in 1809 was a notable turning point in the development of the modern university. Berlin became a model for other German universities, and increasingly for higher education outside Germany on both sides of the Atlantic as well. Maps are important, for without them people risk wandering and getting lost. But maps can distort or misrepresent reality, and confuse the pilgrim on her journey. A concern for ministry is surely a necessary and significant part of the agenda of practical theology but it is far from being the whole or the heart of that agenda.
