Taylor and the Future of University Education

Re the Taylor essay in the New York Times, really, how odd it is that theology is still a subject in modern secular universities.  With only the most indirect application to the world as it is experienced by real people, the medieval subject has been caught in an identity crisis since Nietzsche remarked that its inclusion in the humanities is a conundrum beggaring any attempted explanation.

The weaving of doctrinal fantasies must, sure, be leavened with lace, bells and whistles, images and video-projects. Who otherwise would wish to write about purely ideological disagreements, the kind Marx said cannot actually have a discernible history?

Who would not rather make a multi-media presentation about Hans Kung or Zoroaster or the famous three-Jesus-fingers or two-Jesus-fingers controversy?

"In the arts and humanities, where looming cutbacks will be most devastating, there is no longer a market for books modeled on the medieval dissertation, with more footnotes than text."

"Impose mandatory retirement and abolish tenure."

"Abolish permanent departments, even for undergraduate education, and create problem-focused programs."

"Consider, for example, a Water program. In the coming decades, water will become a more pressing problem than oil, and the quantity, quality and distribution of water will pose significant scientific, technological . . ."

I know about water.

Did you learn about the history of water management and other resources?

No, about the water of history management, and the watering of other resources, with a strong theological slant. You know there is no more history department.