"For many decades now - and certainly during my adult life in academe - the Western intellectual world has not been convinced that theology is a pursuit that can be engaged in with intellectual honesty and integrity"

In this quote, Arthur Peacocke is revealing his belief that for a very long time, the Western intellectual world has not completely accepted faith as a legitimate field of study. He suggests that during his adult life in academia, there has actually been a lack of conviction that faith can be pursued with intellectual sincerity and stability. This could be analyzed as a criticism of the scholastic community for not offering faith the same level of respect and trustworthiness as other fields of study. Peacocke's words also imply that there may be a bias against theology, causing an absence of recognition for its possible as a rigorous and significant pursuit.