What was necessary for Christian theology to develop? Dr. John Rao discusses the obstacles that had to be overcome in order even to begin developing a theology, as well as the numerous new problems theological speculation would engender. The idea that the world as we know it was soon coming to an end was one major roadblock to serious theological work. Why bother? this apocalyptic spirit asked. Taken from: Early Christianity and Late Antiquity - 1993 VonHildebrand Institute