Should theology be an academic disipline at the universities?

[The Monkey]

I'm of the opinion that theology, the study of God, should have no place at the university of secular countries, as what they're doing doesn't have a scientific methodology. Most prominently fundamentally lacks critical thinking of source material (such as the Bible). To think that taxpayers' money is being spend on that crap while many other academic disciplines, not the least within the Humanities, are in a grave lack of funds, is beyond me. Even in this day and age it's a prominent discipline on most of the world's universities.

Theology shouldn't be confused with religious studies. Theology works from the assumption of God's existence. Religious study is the study of religion (it's history, philosophy, effects etc.) from a secular perspective. The latter is a very important discipline.

What do you think?

 

[CptStern]

I'm of the opinion that theology, the study of God, should have no place at the university of secular countries, as what they're doing doesn't have a scientific methodology. Most prominently fundamentally lacks critical thinking of source material (such as the Bible). To think that taxpayers' money is being spend on that crap while many other academic disciplines, not the least within the Humanities, are in a grave lack of funds, is beyond me. Even in this day and age it's a prominent discipline on most of the world's universities.

Theology shouldn't be confused with religious studies. Theology works from the assumption of God's existence. Religious study is the study of religion (it's history, philosophy, effects etc.) from a secular perspective. The latter is a very important discipline.

What do you think?

I took theology in last year high school ..all I remember is that we dicussed at length the goddam theology around the triumvirate or trisexual or something that starts with T


oh right, the holy ****ing trinity


anyways I was bored to tears and my teacher hated me cuz I'd throw in stuff like "SO WHAT ABOUT THE DINOSAURS?" which was usually answered with a "Stern, god made it appear as if the dinosaurs were millions of years old, and get a haircut"

 

[Kadayi]

Plenty of academic subjects have no scientific methodology tbh. You might as well ask the same question about Fine Art or Poetry.

For the sake of Poetry and Fine Art, Philiosophy, etc, etc theology stays.

 

[The Monkey]

Plenty of academic subjects have no scientific methodology tbh. You might as well ask the same question about Fine Art or Poetry.

For the sake of Poetry and Fine Art, Philiosophy, etc, etc theology stays.

So are you saying that only the natural sciences have a scientific methodology? I have friends who take philosophy. The first three months were devoted entirely to explaining of methodological approach to the subject.

 

[Kadayi]

So are you saying that only the natural sciences have a scientific methodology? I have friends who take philosophy. The first three months were devoted entirely to explaining of methodological approach to the subject.

How do you test a philosophy?

Anyhows you're skipping the Art and Poetry (and anything else esoteric)

 

[Blackthorn]

People should have the freedom to study whatever they want to study without prejudice.

 

[CptStern]

hence the reason for Chistian schools of higher learning ..also see madrasa, hebrew schools etc


"I'm not an expert but I just stayed at a holiday inn"


personally I'm not all that keen in having someone in a position of authority who in essence went to clown college

 

[jverne]

no...we have mythology and cultural history for that.

 

[The Monkey]

People should have the freedom to study whatever they want to study without prejudice.

And let the taxpayers pay the bill? If they want religious indoctrination they should go to the church, not the universities.

How do you test a philosophy?

Anyhows you're skipping the Art and Poetry (and anything else esoteric)

Test? I didn't say it had the same methodology as biology, that would be impossible (and not desirable). And the same thing goes for arts, literature (poetry), music, religious studies, history etc. All these have a critical analysis of their source material as one of the foundations, theology doesn't.

 

[jet_porkins]

As far as state universities go, I could see an argument against theology. I'm not entirely sure.

 

[Kadayi]

And let the taxpayers pay the bill? If they want religious indoctrination they should go to the church, not the universities.

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ugp09/programme/138

Seems like a reasonable course of study. No different that say specialising in say Russian History or Medieval Literature.

Test? I didn't say it had the same methodology as biology, that would be impossible (and not desirable). And the same thing goes for arts, literature (poetry), music, religious studies, history etc. All these have a critical analysis of their source material as one of the foundations, theology doesn't.

Critical analysis in any Art subject is for the most part conjecture based on circumstantial evidence. It's rare, short of an Artist saying 'this is what I meant!!!' that there is ever a definitive. Also your telling me that Theology has no critical analysis, but judging from the breakdown of the course above, there does seem to be a degree of that going on.

 

[PvtRyan]

Learning about religion and what people believe and what influence that had on the world = a study.

Talking with certainty about things over which you have no more authority than a plumber, nor more knowledge of, like life after death = making shit up.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

not public schools.

 

[Escaep]

Why not have it be an elective? If you sign up for it and want to take it then you should be allowed to take it. It doesn't have to be a required class like Biology or Algebra. What is wrong with teaching both sides?

 

[PvtRyan]

Why not have it be an elective? If you sign up for it and want to take it then you should be allowed to take it. It doesn't have to be a required class like Biology or Algebra. What is wrong with teaching both sides?

Mostly agreed, but the "teaching both sides" statement sends shivers down my spine.

 

[Escaep]

Mostly agreed, but the "teaching both sides" statement sends shivers down my spine.

The "teaching both sides" is meant to mean teach Biology in Biology class, and keep the theology studies in theology class.

 

[The Monkey]

Critical analysis in any Art subject is for the most part conjecture based on circumstantial evidence. It's rare, short of an Artist saying 'this is what I meant!!!' that there is ever a definitive.

Of course it isn't definitive, otherwise it would hardly be worth to analyse the meaning of it, would it? Definite meaning hardly exists, even if the creator explains it, as it's possible he or she isn't telling the truth.

Also your telling me that Theology has no critical analysis, but judging from the breakdown of the course above, there does seem to be a degree of that going on.

They have done their best to whitewash what they're doing to appear more legitimate, but there's no escaping that they're dealing with a presumption that God exists, and that not a scientific approach.

Why not have it be an elective? If you sign up for it and want to take it then you should be allowed to take it. It doesn't have to be a required class like Biology or Algebra. What is wrong with teaching both sides?

1. Because it gives the impression that what they're doing is science, which it's not.
2. Because it costs money that could be better spend on other places. And if it's a state-run university it's the taxpayers's money we're dealing with.
3. There're more than two "sides" to the story. Why not teach the mythologies of the other religions as well with an uncritical mind? They're just as legitimate as the Christian.

 

[Escaep]

2. Because it costs money that could be better spend on other places. And if it's a state-run university it's the taxpayers's money we're dealing with.

Does that "better spent in other places" apply to classes such as underwater basket weaving? Because we all know we need those classes.

3. There're more than two "sides" to the story. Why not teach the mythologies of the other religions as well with an uncritical mind? They're just as legitimate as the Christian.

Guess I should have said "intelligent design" to be more precise.

 

[PvtRyan]

Does that "better spent in other places" apply to classes such as underwater basket weaving? Because we all know we need those classes.



Guess I should have said "intelligent design" to be more precise.

Intelligent design isn't theology, it's pseudo-science and should no more be a university course than astrology or midget-punting.

 

[Escaep]

Intelligent design isn't theology, it's pseudo-science and should no more be a university course than astrology or midget-punting.

Excuse me then, I must have had those mixed up. Thx for the clarification.

 

[Kadayi]

Of course it isn't definitive, otherwise it would hardly be worth to analyse the meaning of it, would it? Definite meaning hardly exists, even if the creator explains it, as it's possible he or she isn't telling the truth.

Then you concur that there is more to life than scientific methodology, no? :dozey:

They have done their best to whitewash what they're doing to appear more legitimate, but there's no escaping that they're dealing with a presumption that God exists, and that not a scientific approach.

You're telling me Kings College, London teaches Hogwash? Get the **** out of here!!! Do you even have an understanding as to what a degree course is? Do you actually understand what a degree as level of educational attainment constitutes?

:dozey:

*shakes head

A vast amount of human existence is pure presumption, and a vast amount of human culture is enthralled with such presumptions.

 

[Eejit]

Yeah, sure. It's hardly the most bullshit degree topic out there.

 

[Raziaar]

I demand we teach Tarot in schools.

 

[Eejit]

It's not school, it's university. All courses are chosen by the student.

Also there probably are Tarot courses somewhere.

 

[Raziaar]

No, you do not understand! I want this taught starting from grade seven up! I want a new generation of gypsies!

 

[Eejit]

They prefer not to be referred to as 'gypsies'. :arms:

 

[Raziaar]

They prefer not to be referred to as 'gypsies'. :arms:

Oh, I'm not talking about Romani. I'm talking about idiots.

 

[The Monkey]

Does that "better spent in other places" apply to classes such as underwater basket weaving? Because we all know we need those classes.

We don't have that sort of classes here.

Then you concur that there is more to life than scientific methodology, no? :dozey:

What the **** are you talking about? You seem to think that there's only one scientific methodology, the one found on physics. The Humanities have a very different method of research than the natural sciences, quite naturally. But theology doesn't live up to that.

You're telling me Kings College, London teaches Hogwash? Get the **** out of here!!! Do you even have an understanding as to what a degree course is? Do you actually understand what a degree as level of educational attainment constitutes?

:dozey:

*shakes head

A vast amount of human existence is pure presumption, and a vast amount of human culture is enthralled with such presumptions.

Theology is kept at universities due to tradition, not scientific merits. I'm sure that Kings College has wonderful courses in all sorts of subjects. but the very nature of theological research (that is, its fundamentally uncritical view if the bible) disqualifies it from being called science.

 

[Saturos]

Learning about religion and what people believe and what influence that had on the world = a study.

Talking with certainty about things over which you have no more authority than a plumber, nor more knowledge of, like life after death = making shit up.

I thought that was anthropology.

 

[Sir Phoenixx]

"Mythology I, II, and III
Studying past and present mythologies such as Roman, Greek, Christian, and Muslim. From Gods pulling the Sun and Moon across the sky in chariots, to women being descendants of a bone."

:thumbs: