For The Turnstiles

Objection! You have a bad habit of trashing theology, metaphysics, Spirit as anything but a personal or cultural phenomenon. What about theology as a form of knowledge, as you like to say?

Reply: What I really object to is the deployment of private theologies, private religions, into public discourses as forms of knowledge as though they are not private theologies. I think this is a form of make-believe. It is a problem that inheres in "intelligent design" and in Wilberism. It puts adherents on the defensive; if someone questions your position on something, as is healthy and constructive in public discourse (especially academic discourse), that person is necessarily questioning the tenets of your faith. Meltdowns ensue, conversation and discussion and debate crumble. It is not productive at all.

It is true that I have not always articulated this position in this way, sometimes for rhetorical purposes, sometimes in shorthand, and sometimes just out of laziness or incompetence. My comments should not be taken to mean that I think reading, say, Protestant theology following Ernst Bloch is a waste of time. That is not my position. You can learn something from critical utopian theology. It would only become problematic when you insist on presenting those speculations as though they are public science.