FAITH LACKING UNDERSTANDING
Theology ‘Through a Glass Darkly’
By Randal Rauser. Paternoster. 194 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978-1-84227-547-4
Rauser claims that ‘doing theology’ is more exciting than winning a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and more dangerous than scaling an uncharted mountain range.
This book looks at the Apostles’ Creed and worries that, through over-familiarity, we have come to assume an understanding which we do not truly have. His helpful test is an evaluation of our response to these soaring doctrines of the faith: as we speak the words, are we thrilled, encouraged, or even incredulous? Any of these are better than the simple apathy we normally experience. Rauser’s goal, then, is to shake the reader out of apathy, away from apparent understanding and into the journey of ‘unimaginable peril and inestimable reward’ (p.2) which is true theological engagement. Yet, that journey is a dangerous one. Dangerous, because — to our minds — Christian doctrines are illogical (well known paradoxes — such as the Trinity — are logically inconsistent), immoral (don’t the doctrines of Hell or Atonement imply a blood-thirsty God?) and implausible (frankly naive, in our Western, post-Enlightenment, scientific world). Of course, the point is not that Christian doctrine is illogical, immoral or implausible. Rather, that our thinking is limited and inconsistent. Indeed, we are finite beings studying the one thing which is infinite — so we will always fall short in our attempts at comprehension.
