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Can you think about theology in the middle of a cultural “chaos”?

Last Friday, being Fourth of July, we went with my family to a lake near our home to spend a day away from phones and computers and close to nature.

 

That afternoon, while my wife and children rented a boat and went around the lake, I took the opportunity to start reading a book about the influence Greek philosophy had through history on Christian theology, mainly in the understanding of creation and sin. That’s what I call an “easy summer reading.”

 

In addition to philosophy and journalism, I also study theology due to a desire I had in my childhood (and still unfulfilled) to gain a better understanding of that transcendental and personal experience we sometimes call “God.”

 

Whatever the case, I was there with a serious book about a serious issue in the middle of hundreds and probably thousands of people who certainly couldn’t care less, that day or any other day, about the book I was reading.

 

In fact, I think people didn’t even care I was reading a book, or that I was even there.

 

With the book in one hand and a pencil on the other hand, I began to carefully read about the interconnection, seldom perceived by the general public, between philosophy and theology, that is, between what humans think by themselves and about themselves and what humans think about God.

 

The key point of the book is that to understand God first you have to understand that there is more than one way to understand God. To think there is only one way to understand God is not to understand God at all.

 

I have to confess that, in spite of my best efforts, it was difficult for me to focus on the book, due to constant interruptions and distractions. I began to feel irritated, not only because of the distractions, but because people around me clearly didn’t have any interest about the important issues of philosophy and theology.

 

For example, next to my table there was a Mexican family with more food that family could eat that day, but they were barbecuing yet more meat.

 

There was also an Asian family, probably from Korea, who were waiting for their turn to use the grill, while they were marinating some meat.

 

A short distance away there was a group from Jamaica, having a good time playing cards and dominoes, and with music so loud, I guess the whole lake could hear it.

 

However, the music from Jamaica had to compete with the music from the Dominican Republic, because a group of Dominicans was also sharing, proudly and loudly, their unmistakable Caribbean rhythms.

 

I suddenly realize how foolish I was. God was showing me in real life the diversity that, according to the book I was reading, was the bases to understand God.

 

I immediately closed the book, because books can wait, but life cannot. I learned that the best way to do theology is precisely in the middle of such an amazing cultural “chaos.”

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