Donald A. Windsor
Religion belongs to the clergy and theology belongs to academia. Both of these camps would like the rest of us to just follow along with whatever they dole out. Shepherding sheep is the clergy's model. Gobbledygook is the theologians' fortress.
I do not need or want a shepherd because I like to go my own way. I am not a follower.
I do not like, or even tolerate, the approach of academic theologians because they seem to be more preoccupied with the works of each other than they are with God. Theology is supposed to be the study of God, not the study of theologians. Academic theology is profound, but useless. It has no practical applications to every day personal life.
So, I am left free-ranging in whatever ground I can scrounge between the two mighty realms of religion and theology. To me, this sacred stretch is my holy space. I can shop around in both realms, pick and choose what I like, and escape back to my precious sanctum.
Furthermore, I doubt whether God wants me to be anywhere else. The clergy and the theologians, as well as those who are both, are middlemen. I want direct access to God.
But conversing with God is a one-way street. I talk, but God remains silent. No conversation takes place. But that is why I remain driven to explore. Perhaps God responds in ways other than linguistic. Perhaps God dialogs in terms of fate.
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