Does It Have to Be So...?

Whenever I begin to read about theology, I find myself frustrated after just a few paragraphs. What is it that requires theologians to write is such difficult language? Is the nature of God so difficult that it can't be expressed in everyday language? Now, honestly, I doubt that. I believe it is possible to translate the high-falutin language of philosophy and theology into regular speech. I also believe that none of the nuances or subtleties would be lost. Let's take an example: Paul Tillich, "God is the ground of all being." The ground is like the earth, right? And things grow out of the earth right? So, God is what we grow out of or grow from, right? What's so hard about that? Ground of all being, ha! Then we have his other one, "ultimate concern." This second example is worse. What the hell does that mean? Ultimate means the last in a literal meaning of the Latin word. I don't think he meant that God is last concern. Like, you're going to be concerned about everything else before being concerned about God. Okay, what else does it mean? Highest? God is the highest concern. Okay, I think that's a little closer. I guess ultimate can also mean most, so God is most concern. That one doesn't make so much sense. So, let's look at "concern." I have a concern means I care about something. Okay, now that's pretty good. So, God is my Highest Care. Concern also mean a worry. God is my highest worry. Hmm, not very good. Okay, let's go back to highest care. God is what I care about the most. Ooooo, that's getting pretty close, I think. What do I care about the most? My family? My health? My integrity? Well, that's pretty good, but wouldn't God include all those things, but also be more than that? Yeah, I think so. Okay, when Tillich says Ultimate Concern he really means all those things I care about the most and more. Let's see, now back to ultimate - we have those desserts in restaurants called the "Ultimate Chocolate Cake" or some such thing. In that case doesn't ultimate mean the best, the very best, no way to get better? So, we have the Very Best Care. That thing that we believe is the Very Best thing to Care about. Now, were getting somewhere!

Look back at this post and notice how long it is. I had to break it down (deconstruct) so much that it took about 20 or more lines. Wouldn't it have been just as easy for Tillich to say, "God is the Very Best Highest Most Important Thing to Care About"? I think so, but then I'm no PHD who has made a career of talking to and writing for other PHDs.
- posted by Marcos @ 8:37 PM