Theology is generally understood as grappling with our experience of the element of mystery/Reality that is apparently concealed in the reality. In theistic circles, it is an effort to understand, the historic awareness of the divine and its dynamics in a particular socio-religious tradition, and to respond accordingly to its existential milieu. In our classrooms, we do catholic theology i.e. we are introduced to different (beautiful) experiences, some fundamental and others supportive, that has built up Christian religion to be precise Catholicism with a systematic and critical tour into the mighty, complex and well defined framework of our religion. Since catholic faith essentially is a love response to God’s love manifest in Jesus Christ, for a good catholic student theology becomes a ‘love experience’. I would even call it as Mary Magdalene’s experience, one who was so much in love with the Lord, that often she is mistaken to be his bride. A good student of theology shares her sentiments, “On my bed at night I looked for the one I love, I sought him [...] I called him [...] I will rise and go about [...] through the streets and the squares; I will seek the love of my heart [...] the watchman came upon me, those who patrol the city. [I asked,] ‘Have you seen the love of my heart?’” Sg 3,1-3. On this point Pope Benedict XVI writes “One who loves wants to know [more than mere intellectual knowledge] his beloved better and better […] motivated by the love of the One who gave his consent” quoting St. Bonaventure, in his general audience on the feast of St. Bonaventure. The experience strengthens us to the extent of martyrdom, authentic love is the will to extend one’s self for the spiritual growth of one’s self and the other.
The aim broadly is to make the student grow mature in his faith (meaning and relevance of the divine) and his religion. Theology thus becomes an on-going process. There is no stage in life where we have exhausted every possible growth. In a way, it is a space/time for the student to think about things which he might have regarded self-evident in his younger days. It is grappling with the faith (life) experiences in the adulthood of life. As I have been introduced into this language-game one thing that becomes slowly clear is that here the object of our understanding is not just doctrines, though at times it can be reduced to it, but a pure-living-dynamic-reality which is the source and the sustainer of everything that exists.
The subject is a sincere desire to know (to be enlightened by) the mystery/Reality/Truth. We will sincerely long to know only those things / persons which have gripped us, about which we are obsessed with and have fallen in love. In a way theology is our attempt to come closer to this reality which has baffled us through different events (faith experiences) at different stages of life and to learn its language game. We will thus be entering into a new world-picture with its categories, methods, rules etc., different from the one we are usually accustomed. Taken in the right perspective, theology would be an adventure into a new outlook towards reality. Sadly, but, this is not the case with every student who is introduced to theology. While the reasons for the lack of interest can be many one of the pertinent reasons for disinterest in this subject is our distance from the Reality. For such students theology becomes the event of getting in touch with it. It cultivates an attitude, an inclusive outlook that perceives reality in its wholeness, highlighting the presence of mystery/ the divine. The students very much acknowledge it. Most of our study in the class room, after all is our struggle to facilitate a meaningful discussion about it and to become aware of its unceasing invitation to the other in truth, beauty, goodness and love.
Welcome therefore to the world of theology, it is an interesting world-picture. I find it, but for some technical jargons, close to philosophy which in turn is also after an insight into reality. Though they take different roads they never function unconnected. Both faith and reason are functions of the same intellect. There is no pure faith which has nothing to do with reason and no reason that has nothing to do with faith. Most of our beliefs are in search of grounds and most of our rational explanations stand comfortably on ungrounded beliefs. This is the law of life. No wonder we find their inner link in many great thinkers. The fact however, is very evident in Oriental Thought process…
Come then to live a life in connectedness!
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