Two ways to do theology

Stephen Webb

The debate, in other words, is between Schleiermacher and Newman. For Schleiermacher, theologians should hover above ossified religious traditions by perching on the precarious edge of daring creativity. For Newman, prudence alone should lead any theologian to conclude that private fancy is not enough to sustain theological discourse. Schleiermacher advocates for virtuosity, Newman for anonymity. For Schleiermacher, the theologian should be the public face of the Church, in the sense of being visibly involved in accepting the challenges of the secular world, while for Newman the theologian should quietly serve to publicize the distinctiveness of the Church’s public presence in the world.

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/11/who-has-the-authority-to-write-theology