What is Undone Doctrine?

When I was maybe eight years old, my family decided that our cottage in central Wisconsin needed a name - something catchy, memorable, and creative that could be printed on a sign and tacked up next to the mailbox. Something that would clearly demarcate the leisurely space of the lake house from the demands of daily life, while helping us to fit in with the clever names of other doctors' lake homes (the cottage two houses down, also owned by a physician, is named "Grand Rounds," a name which is printed on a water ski).

Of course, being the competitive people we all are, my family decided that we ought to have a contest, and vote on cottage names - a reasonable proposal, for reasonable adults. But we were not a group of reasonable adults, rather a family with six cousins (at the time) all under the age of ten! Predictably, the naming contest hurt the feelings of us kids as our questionable ideas were appropriately eliminated by the voting process. My idea, "Spotland America," was a loser from the start, though my fragile ten year old psyche knew otherwise. Tears may be an understatement to describe my reaction to the ignominy and outrage of my cottage name's resounding defeat.

My late grandfather, a longtime oncologist (himself an avid theologian!), proposed the name "Done Doctorin'," an alliterative title that still calls to mind him hanging up his lab coat, putting down the stethoscope, and pouring himself an Irish Whiskey for a night of conversation and humor.

Undone Doctrine, the name of this site, is in many ways a tribute to my grandfather, known to the world as "Bumpa." Shortly before he passed away, Bumpa gifted me his extensive theological library, an impressive stack of reference works, commentaries, histories, and dictionaries that I will draw on as we sail through the waters of theological inquiry. Bumpa's faith, his unyielding passion for learning, and his deep love of intellectual conversation have certainly influenced my life. I know that the questions posed by this blog are questions he would love to discuss long into the evening, over a big meal, a pint or two of ale, and a large bowl of ice cream, all enjoyed amidst the radiant glow of evening on a Wisconsin lake.

Undone Doctrine is also an objective of ours. The idea of "doctrine" has long shaped the religious world. To many, doctrine seems immutable, cold, and distant. Moreover, our conceptions of "doctrine" reflect poorly on our understanding of "theology," as too many think of "theology" as something that is done by institutional authorities with educational pedigrees and honorary titles.

This site aims to smash the stone tablets of doctrine, to undo the conception that theology is the work of elitist religious types, and to stomp out the insidious idea that theology can only be something that divides us into denominations, sub-denominations, and sects.

Rather, this blog hopes to construct the idea that theology is a framework, a mode of thought, from which all can learn, through which all might benefit, off of which we might restore some understanding to a fractured and divided landscape.

So pour yourself a Jameson, take a seat on the lakeshore, and let us begin the conversation. Oh, bring your worst puns. Bumpa would love to hear them.