"Contemplation, far from being opposed to theology, is in fact the normal perfection of theology. We must not separate intellectual study of divinely revealed truth and contemplative experience of that truth as if they could never have anything to do with one another. On the contrary, they are simply two aspects of the same thing. Dogmatic and mystical theology, or theology and 'spirituality,' are not to be set in mutually exclusive categories, as if mysticism were for saintly women and theological study were for practical but, alas, unsaintly men. This fallacious division perhaps explains much that is actually lacking in both theology and spirituality. Unless they are united there is no fervour, no life and no spiritual value in theology; no substance, no meaning and no sure orientation in the contemplative life."
Very well said, Mister Merton. I think this describes a tension everyone who's spent any amount of time in the Church feels. We must not choose one over the other... we must integrate these two beautiful things... Our thought about God must be held in tension with our experience of God.
11 September 2009
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2 comments:
Yes. I like.
Reminds me of the Orthodox saying that goes "A theologian is one who prays and one who prays is a true theologian."
Very good and a view that is lacking in much of protestantism. I wish I had more of that view in seminary.
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