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What is
the point of asking theological questions? Can we ever really know the
answers? Because
of this probably genetically encoded capacity to continuously learn,
everyone is a theologian by nature, whether they recognize it or not
(even atheists are theologians). Everyone at some time or another in
their life asks themselves if God exists, and if so, how does God act
in the world? When confronted with disaster, tragedy, and loss, it is
not uncommon to ask fundamental and sometimes One's theology, whether formally acknowledged as such or not, often provides the basis for what one chooses to do with one's life, and the meaning one sees in life itself. If God is viewed by someone as a vindictive, abusive patriarch, the chances are good that that core theological belief will be reflected in that person's day-to-day affairs. Likewise, theology also lies at the base of a moral or ethical perspective, which can profoundly affect social and personal relations. Hence, although on this side of death we cannot know anything with absolute certainty (and there is no guarantee that we will know that much more on the other side), it is crucial to our lives and to our communities and the world, that we act as theologians, and ask the hard questions. The answers, though tentative, are important, because they will inform who we are, and how we behave in the world. --from
the question, "What is the point of asking theological
questions? Can we ever really know the answers?" |
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