I am not a theologian, but I occasionally read theology. Moreover, I always have a few students each year who major in history but pursue graduate work in theology. I thus found R.R. Reno’s post on today’s First Things blog to be very interesting and informative.
From Reno’s perspective, the theology programs at Duke and Notre Dame stand high above the rest. Reno also praises the programs at Princeton and Princeton Theological Seminary, Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, Catholic University, SMU-Perkins, University of Dayton, and Baylor. His evaluations are based on the program’s commitment to Christian orthodoxy and the teaching of theology (and not religious studies). As a result, places such as Virginia, Yale, Harvard, and Chicago do not make his list of top programs. Catholic programs at St. Louis, Boston College, and Fordham fall short in Reno’s estimation because they have “drifted from the excitement of the post-Vatican II era to the banality of contextual theology.”
I am curious to hear what my more theologically informed readers think about Reno’s ratings.
If you study the Great Tradition altogether you will find that the only sources of Truth within it are/were the Realized Saints, Yogis, Mystics and Sages—and never ever mere theologians.
Jesus was not a theologian, nor were the various authors of the books of the Bible.
Nor were the authors of any of the Sacred Texts of the other faith Traditions.
So what then is the value or use of theologians who essentially provide second hand dumbed down commentaries on works of profound Wisdom. And via this analysis effectively eliminate the Esoteric core message of the Sacred Texts.
In the Hindu tradition it is common knowledge that if you want to find out anything Real about The Divine Reality you had to find a Realized Saint, Yogi, Mystic or Sage. And then receive his or her instruction and guidance about how to really live The Divine Life.
You can study mere theology for every waking minute of your entire life and it wont make the slightest bit of difference to your underlying brain and nervous system emotional-sexual patterning.
Such unconscious patterning is what drives and governs every aspect and dimension of every ones life, including the kind of religion one subscribes to.
The doing of theology does not come anywhere near to touching and changing that hell-deep fear based patterning.
It does not, and cannot convert the Heart to Love.