Message for Broad View United Newsletter, September, 2023
In January 2007, the year I first arrived in Canada, I experienced my first winter there. Snow fell heavily. I took my first theology course with Sallie McFague. The course was "Introduction to Christian Theology" and the first lesson was "Introduction: What is Theology". I've kept the notes from that course on my bookshelf for 16 years. In the journey of amalgamation, where Broad View and First Met began their virtual cohabitation, it's no surprise to open the first page of these course notes. Someone said to think of amalgamation as "amalgam". It's a concept in chemistry. It's an event where people meet people, stories meet stories, traditions meet traditions, and hopes meet hopes, just like how metals and materials bind without any gaps, like dental fillings. It's like becoming one tooth. So, what can make such an amalgam possible? What should that element be? It makes one think. Anyway, during Sallie McFague's first theology lesson, she named three types of theology. As if she was showing us a guide on how we can undertake this journey of amalgamation, or “amalgam"."
The first step in doing theology is being like 'pupils', akin to students. Pupils are always necessary to receive from tradition. Extreme examples include fundamentalism, passivity, banking method formation, and being a literate Christian. Opposite to the pupils are the 'Constructors' who find it always necessary to revise the tradition. In between, there are Explorers and Discoverers. They believe it's always necessary to combine the approaches of pupils and constructors, not just passively receiving nor imaginatively creating. Explorers and Discoverers probably undertake more difficult tasks, navigating the messy middle. To explore is to believe we discover, not invent nor live in past understandings. Explorers and Discoverers continuously maintain flexibility, engaging in formation and reformation. They 'think through, live through, pray about how to think and act in the presence of God' in the current moment, willing to live within the present context. They embrace the process of gaining wisdom, which is ongoing.
Responsible and passionate explorers are like those who embark on hikes: 'Well-equipped, aware of dangers and risks, and use of maps.' While there might be moments of feeling lost during their journey, they understand the courage and joy of discovering a new trail. Theology has but one purpose: to help us live better with and for God, here and now, with all our fellow creatures. We pray for the wisdom of these theologians, like explorers, discoverers, and hikers, to be with us in our ongoing process of new amalgamation.
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