Why is theology complicated?

To make a point, I will ask you a very simple arithmetic question which you will not be able to answer. The reason you won't be able to answer it is because you have been encumbered with mathematical knowledge. I have won many beers in bars with this question for many years. Only two people ever got it right and both had a PhD in physics - not math.

Ready?

I have a magic box. You put two numbers in this box and something happens inside the box and one number comes out. Remember, this is very simple, do not over complicate. For example, I put a 2 and a 2 in the box and out comes a 4. There are at least three possible answers.

Addition took place in the box.
Multiplication took place in the box.
One number was raised to the power of the other number in the box.

Got it? Remember, keep it simple. Now here is the problem you will not be able to answer.

I put a 3 in the box and a 5 in the box and out comes a 5. What happened to the two numbers in the box?

Put away your pencil and paper. This is way too simple for that. Don't read ahead. I'll give the answer below.

The reason you can't answer this question is because there is no mathematical symbol for this "operation" and like I said, you have been encumbered with mathematical knowledge which makes the simple complicated. Mathematical operators are, plus, minus, multiply, square root and so forth. Some of you are struggling with the "logical operators" like equal to, less than , greater than and so forth. The logical operators yield a true or false answer, in math language, it's a one or a zero.

Theology is like this. We have been encumbered with a lifetime of theological knowledge through hymnody, liturgy, sermons, scriptural interpretation and so on. We may know one theory of the atonement and we build a structure around that one theory. We bend and twist scripture to fit that structure. You may have been told that faith is something you have to conjure up and your world view is shaped by that "knowledge."

My comparing and contrasting mathematics and theology, admittedly, only goes so far. Unlike theology, mathematics has to stand up to rigorous logical tests. Theology can build a superstructure out of thin air and still be credible for the believers.

My point is that theology changes with the times and we cannot be limited by thinking which is constrained by tradition or doctrine. I have been quoting Luther a lot, but Luther believed that fairies lived in the forest so we have to be careful when reading 16th century, or 4th century texts and making a leap to applying them to the 21st century.

Back to the math question. I will ask it a different way and the answer will be obvious. So easy even a child can get it right. Instead of a magic box, I put three pieces of candy in one hand and five pieces of candy in the other and ask a child which one she wants.

What happened in the box is that it selected the largest number. Because there exists no operator for this most basic operation, you failed to get the answer right.