Theology Portable -

Theology is often compared to a cathedral—specifically, the cathedral at Chartres. It took over 200 years to build. It combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Its sculptures depict biblical scenes, but also the signs of the zodiac and the labors of the months. It is never perfectly finished; repairs and additions are constant.

Even the most militant atheist experiences awe before the cosmos. Even the most secular person asks “Why?” when a child dies. Theology is the name for the disciplined, communal, historical attempt to answer those questions without cynicism and without sentimentality. As Paul Tillich argued, theology is “ultimate concern.” Everyone has an ultimate concern—the thing they look to for saving, meaning, and hope. For some, it is money; for others, nation; for others, family; for others, the God of Abraham. Theology is the rigorous analysis of that concern. theology