So, what is a theological world?
Paul Jones argues that each of us live within a unique and different "theological world." These "worlds" are characterized by, in Jones's terms, a distinctive obsessio and epiphania. Here is how Jones describes our obsessio:
An obsessio is whatever functions deeply and pervasively in one’s life as a defining quandary, a conundrum, a boggling of the mind, a hemorrhaging of the soul, a wound that bewilders healing, a mystification than renders one’s life cryptic. Whatever inadequate words one might choose to describe it, an obsessio is that which so gets its teeth into a person that it establishes one’s life as plot. It is a memory which, as resident image, becomes so congealed as Question that all else in one’s experience is sifted in terms of its promise as Answer. Put another way, an obsessio is whatever threatens to deadlock Yeses with No. It is one horn that establishes life as dilemma…The etymology of the word says it well: obsessio means “to be besieged."Basically, the obsessio is the Question of your existence, theologically speaking. What's the location of brokenness in the world or in your life? What's gone wrong? What needs mending or healing?
The epiphania, by contrast, is the experience (or hope) of an Answer to the obsessio:
…epiphania, etymologically meaning “to show upon,” that which keeps the functioning obsessio fluid, hopeful, searching, restless, energized, intriguing, as a question worth pursuing for a lifetime. It keeps one’s obsessio from becoming a fatal conclusion that signals futility…Epiphania is epiphany precisely because its absurdity resides in being too good to be true.According to Jones, each obsessio is different. Each of us place the brokenness of the world in different locations. This then also creates a different epiphania, the experience of grace or salvation that would heal the wound. Basically, we each have different felt experiences about what is wrong with the world. And, as a result, we go looking for different sorts of answers. Thus, your unique obsessio and epiphania creates a distinctive spiritual experience, defining the sort of faith quest you are on, your theological world.
Understanding this diversity is important as we tend to assume that everyone is searching for the same sort of answers in faith. We aren't. So we can't assume, say, that the answers we are giving to our children or church are always relevant to the questions they are asking. We might be living in different theological worlds and therefore talking past each other.
Consider the dominant theological world in evangelicalism. In this world the obsessio is human sin and guilt. Sin, guilt and God's judgment are what is wrong with the world. Sin is the location of brokenness. Consequently, the epiphania in this world is forgiveness and grace. The journey in this theological world is to find relief for sin--the obsessio--in the experience of God's salvation and forgiveness.
Theological worlds also shape your Christology, how you see the work of Christ. So, when the obsessio is sin and the epiphania is forgiveness, the work of Christ is specified: In the atoning death of Jesus on the cross the predicament of sin is confronted and overcome.
And yet, and here's my point, a lot of people don't live in this theological world. For example, for many believers suffering, pain and evil is the obsessio. In this theological world the epiphania looks more to justice, healing, and divine solidarity with victims.
And still other people live other theological worlds. For example, some feel lost and alone. Does the cosmos care about them? Alienation, isolation, feeling abandoned and not at home in the universe is their obsessio.
And so on.
The point to be observed is that we all place the emphasis of spiritual longing in different locations. And sensitivity to those differences can help us understand and care for each other. Parents, pay attention to the theological world of your children. Don't insist on answers they don't care about. Churches, not every member lives in the same theological world of your sermons or songs. Pay attention to all the worlds represented in your pews.
