Challenges to theology in Malta today

Abstract

Nowadays, before one is admitted to a field of study, one often has to go through an aptitude test. In the case of Philosophy, it is said that, in one university, the test was the following: A candidate had just one basinful of water available and two persons, one very dirty and the other very clean, asking for it. Only one could use it: to whom would the prospective philosopher give it and why? He pondered for a while and then said: "To the dirty one, since he obviously needs it more than the clean one". "No, not good for philosophy", he was told. "Why not try social work?". The candidate protested and insisted that it was philosophy he wanted to do. "Try again", he was told. The candidate thought that he could not now possibly get it wrong. "To the clean one, since he obviously appreciates cleanliness more". "No good", he was told. "Try psychology perhaps". The candidate was now really flustered. "Now I really do not know how to tackle your problem", he blurted out. "Very good", he was told "now you have hit upon the attitude with which one needs to tackle a philosophical question". When I, a philosopher, was asked to tackle a topic which implied having some idea of what Theology is and what theological method consists of, I began by pondering what a good aptitude test for theology could be like. I imagined asking a candidate the following question: "Someone told you, "I am in search of God but I don't know the right way to set about it, what do you advise me to do?" I went on picturing to myself a possible sequel to the adoption of this test.