Theology and Life: Who Really Cares?

                                                   Theology and Life:  Who Really Cares?

                                                   By Dr. Juan A. Carmona, Pastoral Theologian


I would like to bring the focus on Racism Within a Biblical and Theological Framework to a temporary halt for the purpose of focusing on the importance or non-importance of the theological enterprise.  The purpose of this essay is to stimulate the reader and all of us, for that matter, to focus on the question of whether theology is or is not important in our lives.  There are two questions that I will address in this essay. They are:

1.  Does God really care what theology we subscribe to?  Does God really give a damn whether we are Arminian or Calvinistic in our thinking?  Does He/She get easily upset because we are not subscribing to the ¨right¨ theology?  While I would be the last person to say that theology is not important, I would also venture to say that I do not see anything in the Scriptures or in the Christian tradition that even remotely insinuates that having a ¨correct¨ theology is a guarantee of having a right relationship with God.  Granted, that in order for us to attempt to have a relationship with God, we need to construct a theology that reflects what a relationship with God consists of, and how we go about establishing that relationship.  However, thatt does not mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that our relationship with God is contingent on our theological orientation.  We have encountered, I´m sure enough people who appear to have a ¨screwed up,¨ theology, and who nonetheless are sincerely committed believers.  On the other hand, we have dealt with people who appear to have a ¨sound¨ theology, and yet have chaotic lives.  What do we do, then?

2.  Does theology have any relevance for people struggling to survive with dignity?  I humbly and respectfully submit that people who are ¨on the run,¨ because of governmental persecution or in risk of any degree of terrorism do not have either the time, the interest, or even the luxury of speculating as to which theology is the ¨right one.¨ Furthermore, I would add that people who are striving to ¨get the cheese off the truck¨ (struggling to pay rent/mortgage and other debts) are not concerned with theological speculation.  A victim of rape or police brutality is not engaged in neat theological formulations, and neither should he/she be.  What then, is the answer to this conundrum?

As one who thinks and operates within the framework of Liberation Theology, I strongly believe and am convinced that a valid theology should emerge from the experience of suffering.  As African American theologian James Cone would say, any theology which is constructed independently of the oppression and suffering of humanity is not a valid or relevant theology.  I would add that any theology which does not even bother to address these issues, is a wasteful exercise in which is good only for the trash can.  Theology should not only be a conversation about the poor, but also a conversation with the poor that reflects our solidarity with them. It is very, very easy to do theology in the comfort of our air-conditioned offices, and even from the comfort of our homes.  But true theology takes place where there is identity and solidarity with the underdogs and rejected of society. Anything other than than, is mental gymnastics and intellectual masturbation.  I invite you to the forum where true theology is taking place, i.e. in the midst of the hungry, the unemployed, the underemployed, the exploited working class, the homeless, those caught up in the vicious cycle and maze of prostitution, the addicted to alcohol and drugs, and, en fin, where people´s asses are being kicked for the hell of it.  This is where Jesus is.  This is where true and relevant theology is taking place.

In the Name of the Creator, Liberator, and Sustainer. Amen.

Juan A. Carmona