Journal article
The Diremption of Meaning
- Abstract:
- Examining work by Rowan Williams, this essay explores what he often refers to as the ‘difficulty’ of writing theology. The difficulty of theology lies in engaging the ruse of having ultimate answers to ultimate questions. The stakes are high: ‘God‐talk’ must concern itself with truth, with reality. But theology knows that truth is always a work of grace and understanding always involves a cost. While it is intellectual understanding that is pursued, it is not merely intellectual understanding that we are aiming for, but rather a spiritual understanding through faith. This involves a diremption of meaning. The essay argues that theological ‘difficulty’ must wrestle with communication and intelligibility with respect to human language, on the one hand, and Christology on the other. The tragic always waits in the wings of such an endeavour and that has pastoral consequences.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 142.6KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1111/moth.70092
Authors
- Publisher:
- Wiley
- Journal:
- Modern Theology More from this journal
- Article number:
- moth.70092
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-18
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1468-0025
- ISSN:
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0266-7177
- Language:
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English
- Pubs id:
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2396344
- Local pid:
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pubs:2396344
- Source identifiers:
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3866797
- Deposit date:
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2026-03-19
- ARK identifier:
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Terms of use
- Copyright date:
- 2026
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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