A few months back I drew up a thinking chart categorising the various modes of thinking characterised by various theological "schools". 

The opening quote was from Edward de Bono:

"Many highly intelligent people often take up a view on a subject and then use their intelligence to defend that view. Since they can defend the view very well they never see any need to explore the subject or listen to alternative views. This is poor thinking and is part of the 'intelligence trap'." (Teach Your Child How To Think, Edward de Bono, p.6)

Theology, IMO, has long languished in this trap due to centuries of heresy-fighting (see pic). Even now, it's difficult for some to see needs for thinking other than a) proving an opponent wrong b) showing why one doesn't have to change one's long-established position.

Traditional / conservative theology has always been better at reflecting about what IS, as opposed to what CAN BE. The time is ripe to experience a transition of thinking from, "Is this right or wrong?" to, "Where can I go from this?".

How does this help theology? 

• We learn to move beyond evaluating worldviews and doctrines in terms of 'CORRECTNESS' (notice how negative judgments usually breed deliberate non-attentiveness to other details?) and towards creativity, engagement and reading of culture, integrative possibilities (see above), charity towards other and/or competing positions(!), potential for further development, etc.
• We affirm the eschatalogical dimension as central to our veiws i.e. theological propositions (not unlike the kingdom of God) as 'already but not yet' in nature/truthfulness/certainty

Christian thinkers can also help their opponents improve their positions, instead of frequently tearing them down(!). In addition, we can embrace:

• A hermeneutics of charity, 'suffering', self-giving; a cruciformed stance of giving as much as possible towards even those who aim to destroy you (intellectually, in this case)
• Less hostility, more hospitability leading to greater integrity, more receptivity by one's opponents to being corrected, and an overall relational development of doctrine (cf. above on 'truth' being relationally constructed)

Finally, in the context of ecclesiology:

• Church leaders can believe that the church, the ministry, the worshippers can give him ever-fresh perspectives on doctrines, totally detrimental to an "I know it all" mentality
• Church members can become more practical in their thinking, focusing on 'results' (does this idea work with people? What impact will it have on different groups? Etc.)

Overall, individual Christians can better avoid quarrelsome hair-splitting and work together to review how to move forward (to new concepts and new categories). Good thinking is not only true thinking, but fresh thinking.

(Note: This is the fouth instalment of the practising pomo series).