Theology as Spiritual Exercise?

I'd like to explore in the next few posts through examining the idea that theology should be seen primarily as a spiritual exercise, in contrast to other models. Such a view has implications for the connection between theology, especially academic theology, and the local church, and for how theology and doctrine divide people in ecumenical discussion.

When I was in undergrad and graduate school I was largely taught that theology should play a regulating role, ensuring that people's speech about God not overstep certain boundaries. A lot of theologians that influenced me early on, like James McClendon, pointed in this direction (McClendon says this especially regarding the Trinity). Many thinkers working from supposedly "post-metaphysical" perspectives, or those who like McClendon are heavily influenced by Ludwig Wittgenstein, take this view.

Since being at a Catholic University I've heard from many folks here that theology should function as a kind of academic apology for the Gospel. One of my teachers at Dayton works hard to expose students to theologians like David Tracy, who I might summarize as a kind of "apologetic" theology, trying to make the Gospel accountable to the different publics of the society, the academy, and the Church itself. "Apologetics" is probably too loaded a word here, but it's hard for me to think of another: theology in this view isn't trying to "prove" itself as much as locate itself in academic and larger social discussions about life, ethics, and meaning.

Should theology be a spiritual exercise? As far back as Peter Lombard, scholastic theologians have been saying that one of the reasons for theology is for the "consolation and delight" of the faithful. Medieval scholastic theologians like Aquinas were fond of quoting 1 Peter 3:15 as a rationale for their writing - "always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you." Should we do theology as meditation on the Trinity, as a kind of spiritual exercise or contemplation? This view seems to make theology more "for everyone" than the first two options, which are in different ways more prevalent in contemporary theology. Seeing theology as a spiritual exercise means we can say theology is a way to love God with our minds.