Approaching New Topics

[J. Van Vliet]

How do you approach researching new Topics--idea, theologian, or controversy--that you are uninformed about?

Specifically:

1) the type of materials:
Do you read articles and then look to a book or two? Or begin to set the background with some biographies? Or rather jump straight away into the material of concern?

2) the content of materials:
Do you approach initially with history, theology, scripture, confessions? Do you have a certain method of research?


Note: Naturally, I would aim to look first at scripture for most topics, but for some--theologians, events, etc.--beginning with scripture is not as natural.

Thanks.

 

[arapahoepark]

I jump into the topic with those of Reformed credentials to gain a grounding, typically. From there I may branch out, depending on the subject.