Theology was, when pursued by men of sanctity, a theology at prayer; which is why its fruitfulness for prayer, its power to foster prayer, is so undeniable. As time went on, theology at prayer was superseded by theology at the desk, and this brought about the cleavage now under discussion. “Scientific” theology became more and more divorced from prayer, and so lost the accent and tone with which one should speak of what is holy, while “affective” theology, as it became increasingly empty, often degenerated