Returning to Spiritual Sense: Cruciform Power and Queer Identities in Analytic Theology

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper is an innovative paper that sheds light on the meaning of Queer Identities and theological tasks regarding Spiritual Sense. There is a deep theological aspect of today's important cultural and social situations and changes. However, the conclusion of this paper seems to be presented as a somewhat declarative proposition, so I believe that it could become a very meaningful paper if the author's more specific arguments are added.

Author Response

Comment 1: "The conclusion of this paper seems to be presented as a somewhat declarative proposition, so I believe that it could become a very meaningful paper if the author's more specific arguments are added."

Response: Thank you for this valuable feedback. I have addressed your insightful concerns by rewriting the introduction and conclusion. In the conclusion, I have tried to lessen the sense of declarative propositions by restating my more specific argument. I've also worked throughout the body of the article to clarify the way I arrive at the conclusion. 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have included comments regarding the structure and clarity of the article as well as some typos that need to be addressed within the attached article.

Overall, this is a compelling essay but the structure would benefit from some tightening as the initial claims are quite dense and the terms in use are not sufficiently explained at the beginning of the essay. These have been flagged in the attached essay.

In saying that, this is an important contribution to the field, especially as a corrective of analytic theology as well as providing constructive ways forward for AT to incorporate. 

The author is well situated both as a scholar and queer person to engage this topic from an epistemic positionality that demonstrates the argument they are making while also making the argument with clarity (mostly). The appreciative criticality of this essay is to be commended.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thank you for your detailed feedback and spotting typos. In the attached corrected version you will see my changes to each place you highlighted.

Comment 1: 

I have included comments regarding the structure and clarity of the article as well as some typos that need to be addressed within the attached article.

Overall, this is a compelling essay but the structure would benefit from some tightening as the initial claims are quite dense and the terms in use are not sufficiently explained at the beginning of the essay. These have been flagged in the attached essay.

Response: I have tightened and edited each place which was highlighted in yellow, as well as corrected typos. I define many of the terms in footnotes so as not to disturb the flow of the argument. I have removed definitions which were placed between other points and added them elsewhere so as to improve clarity. 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Summary:

The author identifies analytic theology as overwhelmingly characterised by cisgendered heterosexual Christian men. To rectify this the author invites analytic theory to embrace the seemingly paradoxical, even contradictory theological practice of spiritual sense which provides what the enlightened “man of reason” lacks: the realisation that one lives within a web of “other” relations. The queer exists in this web, waiting to be spiritually sensed and encountered. The analytic theologian spiritually senses the queer person but also their unique theodicean struggle, which points beyond itself to the task of sensing the foolish and irrational crucifixion and glorification of Jesus Christ. Drawing on Augustine, the author reframes spiritual sensing in terms of seeing through the eyes of the heart which is to sense the gift of God in Christ and Christ in the queer both of which are for us. This spiritually sensed, diverse body of Christ builds itself up and in this way the queer is sensed as integral to this ecclesial task. Analytic theology is fundamentally reformed to be a sensing and thinking discipline by spiritually sensing the queer in their midst.

 

General comments:

The argument is sound, flows, and is theologically astute. The author offers a needed corrective to analytic theology and the means by which the author achieves this through spiritually sensing the queer in our midst is a valuable contribution.

 

The main area for improvement is clarity. The argument is difficult to follow and comprehend. Clarity throughout the paper is my main concern. 

 

For example, the aims of the paper that are outlined in the Introduction are buried under redundant prose. The paper would be greatly strengthened by stripping back the Introduction to reveal a set of aims and the main linking moves that are being made to get there. Aligning the rest of the paper with this streamlined intro will also help provide clarity throughout the paper. 

 

Clarity is also often needed when the author moves on to develop their point. For example, on pages 6 and 7 they take up the theme of trauma that was flagged in the Introduction. Inserting a sentence or two would make clear the link which would help the reader follow the argument. The same could be said for the movement between the end of section 2 and 3. 

 

The author needs to also give considerable attention to combing through each paragraph to get rid of phrases and sentences that are not necessary for the point being made.

 

 

Author Response

Thank you for such thorough comments and interaction with the article.

Comment 1: The main area for improvement is clarity. The argument is difficult to follow and comprehend. Clarity throughout the paper is my main concern. 

Response: I have edited the journal article in full, redacting elements which were not always as clear as they could be. This included body paragraphs, rewriting parts of the introduction and conclusion, as well as removing elements which did not need to be articulated to make the argument.

Comment 2: For example, the aims of the paper that are outlined in the Introduction are buried under redundant prose. The paper would be greatly strengthened by stripping back the Introduction to reveal a set of aims and the main linking moves that are being made to get there. Aligning the rest of the paper with this streamlined intro will also help provide clarity throughout the paper. 

Response: I restructured the introduction to clearly state the argument of the article, how the paper will get there, and its conclusion, which maps accurately onto the rest of the paper and its conclusions. I have particularly worked on clarity by removing any unnecessary or any repetitious or unnecessary terminology throughout, but particularly the mentioned sections.

I used your helpful summary here to more clearly articulate the aims of the paper in the introduction. This was a helpful summary to receive as it tightly summarises the intent of the article for introductory purposes.

Comment 3: Clarity is also often needed when the author moves on to develop their point. For example, on pages 6 and 7 they take up the theme of trauma that was flagged in the Introduction. Inserting a sentence or two would make clear the link which would help the reader follow the argument. The same could be said for the movement between the end of section 2 and 3. 

I’ve added a few sentences to these sections and more generally edited the article where it was unclear. Another reviewer provided some particular spots which lacked clarity which I have also rewritten. At the end of section 2, I added a final few sentences for movement between section 2 and 3.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

There are aspects of the revision that are complementary to the perspectives of the original text and do not reveal the sharpening of the perspectives of prominent researchers. 

Author Response

Thank you for your feedback.

I have spent extensive time tightening and sharpening the argument of the paper, including the introduction, conclusion section and various paragraphs in the first half of the paper. I have shifted the order of material also in the central part of the article. 

I have also sharpened my description of each argument and shifted the paper significantly in terms of clarity, and argumentative perspicuity.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The revisions you have made are welcomed.

I think the article offers an important argument to be heard, but it's still bogged down in "wordiness" which unfortunately obscures its force. Further revision by way of "decluttering" – simplifying sentences, re-stating more simply, etc. – would be greatly welcomed by readers and benefit the reception of the argument.

An example of a sentence that could be easily rephrased for ease or reading and clarity includes this one:

"In a similar fashion to Sarah Coakley, I aver that by opening analytic philosophical

approaches to spiritual sense and its epistemic effects the field can release noetic control,

and revalorize pneumatology and ethics, which emerge from the added discipline of

prayer and spiritual sense."

 

Author Response

Thank you for your feedback. 

I have spent extensive time tightening and sharpening the argument of the paper, including the introduction, conclusion section and various paragraphs in the first half of the paper. I have shifted the order of material also in the central part of the article, and decluttered the paper extensive, removing redundant sentences, excising unneeded repetitions, and watching longer form expression by creating shorter sentence structures.

With these edits,  I have also sharpened my description of each argument and shifted the paper significantly in terms of clarity, and argumentative perspicuity. For these reasons, I think it is ready for publication.