Theology and the problem of expertise

Abstract

Despite the ubiquitous role of expertise in matters of knowledge, its importance is contested in much of Christian theological scholarship, especially the Protestant kind. This article seeks briefly to describe the history of Christian skepticism towards expertise, discuss its theological basis, and argue that we need to acknowledge the importance of expertise in our theologies. Recognizing the role and validity of expertise, I argue, helps one to articulate a middle ground that can affirm the distinctiveness of Christian thinking about the world while also moderating the mistrust that many laypersons have towards intellectual authority.