What Is Analytic Theology?

Abstract

Chapter 5 considers the still open question “What is Analytic Theology?” In dialogue with Timothy Pawl and William Hasker, I argue that analytic theology is a form of faith seeking understanding and a form of constructive theology. I then consider some efforts to push analytic theology into comparatively neglected areas, including topics related to social justice. I focus especially on Sameer Yadav’s call for analytic liberation theology. I conclude the chapter with a bit of additional reflection on why analytic theology is valuable. Christians should agree that it is good to try to answer rational objections to key Christian doctrines, and similarly good to try to give positive models for how to understand them in a way that coheres with other things we take ourselves to know. Those tasks are perennial, and analytic theology is one way that Christians today can pursue them fruitfully. At the same time, however, I also think that there are non-Christian reasons for valuing analytic theology, reasons that anyone might accept. Intellectual inquiry is good. Focused thinking about terrifically difficult problems is good. Watching very intelligent people think as deeply and carefully as they can about things that matter to them more than anything else—that too is good.77 Analytic theology displays all of these goods, something that anyone can recognize, even without accepting the underlying Christian framework.