One question I've wrestled with all semester is "What is the role of faith in theology?" Is there such a thing as a great theologian who is great because he or she has a powerful intellect, but his or her thinking is not the result of a holy life of prayer, of faith, hope and love? Can a person who is not close to God be a good theologian, just because he or she sees things more clearly than others? Conversely, can a very holy, prayerful person who has an abundance of divine faith, hope and love infused in his or her soul be a pitiful theologian? Isn't it the case that the world is fallen and unholy people "succeed" and holy people "fail"?
I have come to believe that the greatest Christian theologians have WISDOM. True, a smart person can do the lesser tasks of explaining the history of theology or doing encyclopedia entries on topics relating to faith and morals. But I don't think a theologian can become truly great without wisdom. Wisdom is not "thinking about" something. It is a union of the mind with God. It is intuitive, a grasping, a touching. I do not think this can be experienced without love for God.
Can people be prayerful, holy and virtuous, and simply not be good theologians? Yes. That is the unfortunate fact of our broken world. One might spend more time in the Adoration chapel praying for insight, and his opponent "win" the theologican debate. But that should not deter us from a life of prayer and a desire for union with God as the necessary context for our theological lives. Theology is a contemplative activity, and as such, it should be oriented primarily and directly to God. God can take care of the rest.
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