The Eternal Questions are not Easy Questions

When we begin to ask the questions of ourselves—seriously ask them—we begin the work of theology, the work of religion, the work of spirituality, which is aligning ourselves to the transcendental ground of our existence, the thing beyond time and space (or not). We begin to align ourselves to the something that is larger than our struggle for hourly, daily existence. We begin the work of weaving our lives around our ultimate concerns

The work of theology has many facets—tradition, authority, speculation, personal experience, mystery. . . Some of us have experienced a good deal of grace, having felt that nature or reality or deity has been on our side most of our lives. Others of us have felt cursed a good deal of the time by whatever powers may be. Others have felt blessed, until a certain event. . .

After all, it is well to remember that it may not be truth we are after, but peace of mind. Again, knowing ourselves is not easy, though perhaps it is required.

First we must ask the questions. “Doing” theology is at once mind-numbingly complex and painfully simple.