IS THEOLOGY REALLY NECESSARY?
I doubt that I am qualified to remark on this question, but I will anyway.
You will have noticed that there is a kind of cult of curators of theological thought, with devotees as dedicated as the disciples. I have a few friends who are budding and/or practicing theologions, and I openly admire them for their efforts to understand the nature of God and the reasoning of Jesus. I admit I find some insight in every master work I have read, but as to the veracity of the insight, I am not so sure.
Although I am fairly in the dark regarding Biblical text, I have noticed references from the Prophets and the Lord himself to this fact... He is totally beyond human comprehension and human understanding. We cannot imagine or grasp what is His essence. So why do so many of the great minds and thinkers in post Christ history devote themselves to this pursuit?
Is it simply the nature of man to take Gods' treacherous gift of ego and through its' implementation demand answers? Is it a combination of some sort of Quest for the Holy Grail of Enlightenment with the adventurers' desire to be the first to seize it? When it seems clearly stated that it cannot be seized?
What quirk of the Lord has made him tell us to seek to understand him while at the same time assuring us that he is beyond understanding? I wonder if he giggles when he reads what all of our great thinkers have written, perhaps slapping his knee at some and shaking his head at others.For we do know the Lord loves a laugh, and a riddle, and a bit of fun on his seventh day.
In conclusion, I do not mean to discredit all who seek to explain his wisdom, I find much to replenish my faith in the readings. But I have a sense that the dedication to the study may be more important as an act of worship than an act of enlightenment.
I will continue to read the wonderful thoughts of so many of these great authors, although I suspect that what they truly uncover is more the depth of thought of the human mind than the nature of God.
You will have noticed that there is a kind of cult of curators of theological thought, with devotees as dedicated as the disciples. I have a few friends who are budding and/or practicing theologions, and I openly admire them for their efforts to understand the nature of God and the reasoning of Jesus. I admit I find some insight in every master work I have read, but as to the veracity of the insight, I am not so sure.
Although I am fairly in the dark regarding Biblical text, I have noticed references from the Prophets and the Lord himself to this fact... He is totally beyond human comprehension and human understanding. We cannot imagine or grasp what is His essence. So why do so many of the great minds and thinkers in post Christ history devote themselves to this pursuit?
Is it simply the nature of man to take Gods' treacherous gift of ego and through its' implementation demand answers? Is it a combination of some sort of Quest for the Holy Grail of Enlightenment with the adventurers' desire to be the first to seize it? When it seems clearly stated that it cannot be seized?
What quirk of the Lord has made him tell us to seek to understand him while at the same time assuring us that he is beyond understanding? I wonder if he giggles when he reads what all of our great thinkers have written, perhaps slapping his knee at some and shaking his head at others.For we do know the Lord loves a laugh, and a riddle, and a bit of fun on his seventh day.
In conclusion, I do not mean to discredit all who seek to explain his wisdom, I find much to replenish my faith in the readings. But I have a sense that the dedication to the study may be more important as an act of worship than an act of enlightenment.
I will continue to read the wonderful thoughts of so many of these great authors, although I suspect that what they truly uncover is more the depth of thought of the human mind than the nature of God.
posted by Byron | 6:40 AM
14 Comments:
Excellent, O Sir Byron! How eloquent art thy words. What irks me also is the fact that these same theologian-types judge each other or "write-off" each other as believers when their "theology" isn't the same. Oh shame. How God must shake his head and weep tears over us.
It is clear that we must seek to know God. It would be dull if we had all the answers now, wouldn't it?
I agree that the greatest theological endeavors are indeed acts of worship - in the same way that making great effort to get to know my wife is an act of love. Conversely, just because she is never ultimately and finally "knowable" does not in anyway make ceasing the chase a laudable virtue.
The problem is not theology, but power. It's because self-securing and self aggrandizing humans seek knowlege for power, not love, that so much suffering follows from seeking after "knowing."
But, is it naive to think that if folks stopped theologizing - they'd behave better. History simply does not verify this.
Hmm... if I may, it is simply not true that theologizing is responsible for all the world's woes - not by far. (I don't think Byron was suggesting this but there is an implicit condemnation in the post.) It was the theological intuition of a creator God who is true/ consistent and created according to immutable laws and principles that gave birth to the rise of science (see Rodney Starks). It was Tolstoy's theological reflections on The Sermon on the Mount that inspired Ghandi. And it was Ghandi's application of theological principles that inspired Dr. Martin Luther King.
It is also the theological concept of "sin" that is behind the social/political construct of democracy - humanity's best attempt yet to limit inevitable human malice and predation (which, of course, has no meaning without recourse to a God, or transcendent character that can be violated.)
Consider first, when a dragon fly swoops down on an unsuspecting mosquito and mercilessly devours it, why is it that none of us cry "foul!" But when humans act similarly, there is a deep sense of injustice and offense? But without an understanding of God, who draws us beyond our pure physicalness, there is really no real basis for outrage.
Behind every civilization, good or bad, is a theology (by necessity)- don't kid yourself. If the "gods" are small and many, capricious, lustful and conniving (as in the case of paganism), society will organize itself accordingly. If God is one (numerically) as in Islam, and uniquely sovereign and alone, society will organize itself by edict and obedience. If God is dynamic and relational, as suggested by the Christian intuition of Trinity, there will be tension between the individual and the commons, (but potential for that relationship to be energizing as well.) If God is absent or non-existent, ethics cannot be intellectually supported and we are left will the tyranny of will and power as Nietzsche so clearly understood - and to which the bloody 20th century attests.
The task is not to abandon theology, but to courageously, with humility and respect, pursue God with all the intelectual vigor we can muster, but not for the purposes of power and mastery, but for the sake of love, which, btw, is in the end a theological concept.
Excellent stuff Steve...thanks for visiting. Much food for thought in what you say...
What irks me is people using what is not their's to their own advantage. What I mean by that is those who, instead of using their own inspiration (divine or otherwise) and transferring it to others as they see fit, are using someone else's fear (individual or the masses)to reenforce their Religion (or cult). Faith based on fear is superstitious and creates grisly rituals, practises and cults.
I understand that your argument is about the possible fallacies of Theology and the potential fruitlessness (or better, inaccuracy) of it all. I bring up fear only because it is our own doubts and ignorance regarding what may be truly "unknowable" that can create divides and tensions (as also detailed in Steve's examples of different forms of religions).
I have not looked to "great thinkers" for answers, nor to religious leaders. I only look to people and let how they live their lives validate their beliefs. If you believe in God, then the path of peace may bring you closer to Him. The paths of conflict only mean to bring you closer to your ego (I'd explain that further but several novels out there will do just fine). "Nuff said true believers."
Hi Byron,
The question you raise is a very good one... and you're certainly not the first person to ask it. It has, in fact, bubbled up in the minds and hearts of Christian theologians and mystics pretty steadily over the past 2000 years.
A little over a year ago, John Stackhouse addressed this in a piece in the Winnipeg Free Press. Stackhouse asked four different people to offer a response to the question of why theology might matter, and I stand by my own response. Of course, what I wrote was condensed into a much shorter set of lines in John's piece, though the Free Press did post the longer answer online as well, and linked it to the published piece. The article can be found at: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/life/faith/everyone-can-use-a-little-theology-59930272.html
The other thought I'd offer into your reflections, though, has to do with a rather famous gorilla named Koko. She was one of those primates that had managed to learn to communicate through American Sign Language, and after an earthquake hit the area where she was living her keepers went to check to see that she was okay. When they arrived at her enclosure, Koko looked up and signed her response to the earthquake: "darn floor, big bite." This was picked up by the songwriter Terry Taylor, who used it as the basis for a song by that title on an album by his quirky and original band, DA. As Taylor interpreted it, Koko's description of the earthquake was quite accurate, in spite of the limits of her language... and what we manage to say about God is similarly "accurate" in spite of our limits.
Jamie
Good article. I tried to couch my question and the expansion of my question in gentle terms, but as Steve pointed out, it has a certain slam quality to it. I have been thinking about this since my Thomas Merton days, when I felt his life was one to, if not glorify, at least admire. My wondering has surfaced again as I have been reading the Bhai' teachings out of respect for a woman who is encouraging me to do so. There are spinoffs to such an act...such as in faith I have accepted Christ...should I now stop considering other faiths which are presented to me by "good" people with such good intentions. Does that make me vaguely heretical?
And Jamie, I weary of thinking sometimes...and wonder if we aren't all dogs chasing a clipped off tail. But any question should be asked, and all answers considered...
My Bhai' friend suggests that perhaps I am more interested in the questions than the answers...which rattled me a bit.
My Spiritual Advisor, Larry Campbell, is once again conspicuous by his absence....time to think about that Trophy Advisor, I guess.
Byron.
Good topic my friend, but I fear that you are barking up a dead horse. I challenge you to show me where in says in the scriptures that God is totally unknowable. I know it says that in early Catholic doctrine(the Nicean Creed), but that is not scripture nor is it true. In fact Jesus invites us to know him and the Father who sent him, Also see in Luke 'Unto you (the disciples) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.'
As Isaiah says 'learning comes line upon line and precept upon precept'. Thus, we need to know the basics first. Learning begins with a testimony and with the teachings of the Holy Ghost who will 'teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance'. Theologians who are all over the map' (and there are many of them) need to go back to these basics and begin again, being humble enough to be open to learn new things.
In answer to your original question - If a theology is incorrect, you are right, it is useless. If it is correct and true, however, it is the most important thing on earth.
Bob
It is great to hear from you Bob...and everyone else. thanks for feeling welcome in my ramblings...
Hi Byron,
I'm new to this blog thing so I'm just posting this to start...j
Hi Byron,
Thanks for the interesting question.
Please bear with my likely repetitious and rambling response.
I believe in Jesus.
I love organized religion.
I'm not a theologian but I think it is important and necessary.
We don't have to be able to spell the word 'good' in order to be good. Nor do we need to be able to number all the varieties of grace so that we may receive it.
Yet the more we know about what it means to be good in ever more subtle or profound terms, then the more means we have to help us strive toward practicing it.
It is similar with grace. While it is taught that grace is a supernatural gift freely given from God, to understand it in more depth or variety, ie: actual grace, imputed grace, prevenient grace, sacramental grace... etc, it might help us to be better disposed to receive it or at the very least recognize and be more thankful for it when it comes in ever more subtle or profound terms.
Anyone even vaguely serious about history will find it difficult to adequately refute the fact that Jesus actually existed and lived here on earth in a specific time and place. We not only have the Bible but secular sources as well attest to the fact that He was born, lived and was crucified.
It is written in scripture that Jesus said that He was God. He was either a lunatic, a liar or He was telling the truth.
This presents us with a problem or a choice.
Do we follow God or not?
If we do, we try to discern as best we can how not to be deceived and follow Him correctly employing our 'informed' conscience as to what we believe would best please God.
If we don't, then we are simply following our instincts, appetites and reasons which may have very little or nothing at all Godly about them.
If we follow ourselves then we can simply wander off into our own subjective and self pleasing universe and hope we don't screw things up for our little comfort zone, or if we follow God, we need to look outside of ourselves, study on the notion more objectively and pay attention to what we're being instructed....and commanded...and hope we don't screw it up and wind up lost forever.
more to come...
I look forward to the rest, James
James' comments continued...The subjective and the objective are not mutually exclusive, however they 'are' two different things. When speaking of religion, people often wind up in fiery arguments that lead nowhere except frustration because they are not consistent and clear on the distinctions between the two. The study of theology helps to give us a more precise language to better understand to relate the teaching accurately apart from how we may 'feel' about it, which can thus help us better steer clear of unnecessary and tangential disagreements based on often overly emotional vaqaries.
We may easily deceive ourselves into believing we are already enlightened if left to our own devices but a little study of correct theology can keep us straight about things like that.
We soon come to see that we are not the ones who create what we see and hear, smell, taste, and touch but that it comes from outside of us.
God is both Transcendent (beyond) and Immanent (within) but is easy to fall into error when detailing such notions.
Not everyone is meant to be a theologian.
Not everyone is meant to be a plumber.
We need plumbers to help keep our water flowing in the right directions out the taps or down the drains.
I opine that we need theologians to help define and keep principles and prescriptions clear and consistent with what has been upheld since Christ. But let's not fool ourselves, I'm referring to REAL THEOLOGIANS...not just armchair investigators such as myself.
Of course it is easy to say just be peaceful, don't hurt anybody and everything will somehow turn out all right in some sort of pacifist way, but for more complicated issues and questions involving a more complex or discernment of principles, ethics and moralities in a number of possibly grave situations and environments, are you not happy that certain more inclusive and encompassing questions have been well grappled with prior?
While Einstein is not a theologically perfect example, he did say: "The only reason I can see so far is because I've been able to stand on the shoulders of giants."
With so many wild and divergent opinions about the nature of God and what the true Church is and what the real bible is supposed to be teaching, it helps if we can keep our facts straight. A sound theological study can help.
If we are prepared to be real students of the subject then the tools are available to us to learn what we must. Not because we seek power over others but because we love God so much that we want to know Him more and more.
As any serious student knows, the apprehension (or comprehension) of any vast subject requires an initial nibbling at the outside edges to get rid of the dross of error in order to get closer to the essentials or to the core truths of the matter.
Aided by grace, a well-founded theological study can help us to get a little closer to the utter and ineffable truth; which is God.
Spiritual mystical experience aside, while our intellectual understanding of God on this side of death is tiny and similar to a tadpole's understanding of abstract quantum mechanics, the study of God, otherwise known as theology, can bring us closer to recognizing through our intellect, how we may more deeply participate, in our own small way, in the great and wondrous gift of His love.
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