I would say that after much reading, the differences between Peter Abelard and that of Bernard of Clairvaux are strikingly similar to an issue I brought up earlier, that of logos vs. faith alone/authority. Although I would say that Abelard did not totally throw out faith & authority but rather thought one should understand what one believes in order to have a greater understanding of the Word.
As Abelard once said:
For by doubting we are led to inquire, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.
By applying logic and reason one is not changing the Word/foundation of Faith but rather trying to put/make sense in/of it. The foundation of our Faith is a belief in God, what He has done for us and our love for Him.
Just like how we are brought up with authority alone, we believe what we have been told because we have no reason for doing otherwise. A child (in contrast to an adult) cannot apply logic on such levels and they just accept it. However, as we develop scholastic skills and learn to think independently, sometimes we cannot see a good enough reason for doing something that is traditionally taught by authority.
We should not remain stagnant in studying the Word but rather try to add on to the foundation that is Christ in our lives and build upon it by studying the Word in greater depth. Although sometimes these just end up as futile attempts to understand a God that is beyond our human comprehension and logic, because only God knows the Truth and we can only ask for His divine revelation and wisdom in such things.
Though sometimes there is beauty in not knowing or rather beauty in something so incomprehensible, that is why would God do so much for someone as lowly as me.
O LORD, what is man that you care for him,
the son of man that you think of him?- Psalms 144:3