Expanding the scope and meaning of theology is a goal that I pursue both personally and professionally.
Inspired by my seminary mentor, Urban T. Holmes, III, I have always favored an experiential and existential way of doing theology over a classical and dogmatic one. The former starts with human questions. The latter starts with divine answers.
Theology has always been concerned with supernatural beings. This makes sense, since our species developed self-awareness and wondered about our origin, location, and destiny. We also needed protection from the unknown and frightening forces of nature around us. We assumed that everything was controlled by spiritual entities that resembled us, but were more powerful. Different cultures gave these entities different forms, but their existence was taken for granted. Theology started when some people tried to understand and speak on their behalf. They could be considered the first clergy. But in an entirely magical world, they could also be seen as the first magicians. Theology originated as the study of magic.
The word magic has many meanings and interpretations. It can evoke a sense of wonder, such as when we witness a first kiss. It can imply a mysterious phenomenon that defies logical explanation. It can be a simple trick that entertains children, like your uncle Joe's quarter act, or a spectacular show that dazzles millions, like David Copperfield's illusions. When I think of magic, I think of two of my favorite theologians, Penn and Teller.
I admire them greatly. I also regard them as theologians. As I mentioned, theology originated from the study of magic, and in my view, it remains so despite the scientific and scholarly advancements it has gained over the thousands of years since its inception. People still pursue it and offer it to others. The only difference is that we now understand its mechanisms.
Penn and Teller are masters of their craft. They have earned a fortune by satisfying our desire—a moment when logic and reality are defied and the impossible happens. We long for that rare moment when we can escape from the consequences, the responsibility, and the limitations of our lives and see our dreams come true regardless of our flaws and mistakes.
The term “illusions” is used by magicians to describe their acts. Like David Copperfield, who performs his magic and lets you wonder how he did it, most of them leave room for doubt. You see it happen, but you know it can't be real. They tease your appetite for the impossible but never satisfy it.
Penn and Teller are different from other magicians. They perform some of the most intricate illusions possible, but they always explain how they did it. They acknowledge that magic exists, but it is a product of the human mind and perception, not a property of the universe. They want you to enjoy the beauty of the illusion, but they also want you to appreciate the self-awareness that comes with understanding how it works. They are theologians in the best sense of the word.
We create and need illusions such as poetry, art, music, love, justice, and freedom. They are magical things that we make happen.
To ensure our survival on this planet, we need to be accountable for our religions, whether they are patriotism, nationalism, capitalism, militarism, football, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other. They are not supernatural. They do not originate from the gods. They (and the gods we revere) are our inventions—illusions we have created. They are our mirrors.
It is time for us to accept this reality and purposefully create illusions that will inspire us to achieve the best possible conditions for all living beings on the planet and the planet itself.
We have to mature quickly and get to work designing these masterful illusions now if history is to continue.
It will be the most amazing illusion of all time if we succeed. But if we fail, we will vanish like a magic trick.
Everything matters.
WHP