The 20th century philosopher Wittgenstein, in speaking to a friend, O.K. Bouwsma, thought that his teaching had done more harm than good, that people did not know how to use it soberly.
"Do you understand?" he asked.
"Oh yes", Bouwsma replied,"they had found a formula."
"Exactly" was Wittgensteins reply.
(Abbreviated from the biography of Wittgenstein by Ray Monk)
There are no formulas for finding, knowing, realising "truth" and Wittgenstein insisted that an expression has meaning only in the stream of life. Therefore "truth" (our truth) can only be lived, not thought.
Reflecting on all this, as I see it there is no theology taught in the Bible. This is the mistake made by those who build an "only way" upon just one verse. For the spirit to "blow where it will" there can be no one formula.
As an example, take the doctrine of Original Sin. This is not taught as such in the Bible. It is part of a theology derived from the Bible. The doctrine entered the Christian mainstream via St Augustine (4th century) who taught that even unbaptised babies would be denied the full joys of heaven.
Given Original Sin as truth, as doctrine, what to make of the words of Jesus from St Matthew's Gospel:-
"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven"
Obviously such words can be interpretedin such a way as to leave the Original Sin doctrine intact - one has only to turn to the various writings of Protestant Fundamentalists to find "explanations" and justifications for holding fast to the teaching. Yet what is gained by seeking to funnel the Living Word into a word writ on stone, not allowing it to fly free.
They do Him wrong who worship and know God in just one particular way - they end with the way rather than God
(Meister Eckhart)
End with what are no more than a string of concepts, and not the living waters.
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