Studying Theology

[MrJonno]

Some of those degrees look they are a study of religion not god (theology) which is a valuable(ish) academic subject. It's basically a subset of history, literature, music, sociology and philosophy which have some value.

I would say as an atheist you really can't understand the modern world with at least some understanding of the major religions in it. God doesnt exist but his followers do

[apophenia]

Ermph. I'll have to look at your materials later -- my brain is still half asleep. I guess offhand I don't share your ire. And I'm not sure that has anything to do with me being deeply religious and spiritual. It probably has something to do with my viewing that which atheists and skeptics do as not fundamentally different from what the religious do. That said, many times I've observed that, if I hadn't been an atheist, I likely would have been a monk. And this year, with my recent involvement in the Unitarian church, and some educating from a fellow atheist about her experiences in them, my view is somewhat qualified. I could see myself going to seminary to be a UU minister, though it's not a practicality in many ways. And I'm grateful to my local UU minister for teaching me things about both other faiths and my own that i didn't know. But again, I'm nosing around the issue and not properly meeting it. Brain is too groggy, I'll try to come back later.

[Bella Fortuna]

Some of those degrees look they are a study of religion not god (theology) which is a valuable(ish) academic subject. It's basically a subset of history, literature, music, sociology and philosophy which have some value.

I would say as an atheist you really can't understand the modern world with at least some understanding of the major religions in it. God doesnt exist but his followers do

Vast difference between comparative religion (or whatever it may be rebranded as), studying the subject from an historical or cultural perspective, versus teaching a given religion as a truth, and all its attendant claptrap rules. The former is legitimate and worthy of attention for part of one's education, in my opinion, and the latter very much not so.

[laklak]

I was a theology major for over a year back in the day, it was the only draft deferment left other than medical school, which was way way too hard. At least in theology you can smoke a shitload of dope and talk a bunch of utter nonsense and still catch an A.

[DaveDodo007]

The utter bollocks of it disgusts me.

Yesterday I heard an article on public radio about the theology program of Claremont College, how they have integrated degrees in other faiths because their Christian base was dwindling. It was full of buzzwords like "multi-faith dialogue" and presented as 'isn't this a wonderful thing?' However, the whole notion that this is an acceptable subject for education - memorising all the intricacies of religious nonsense of any stripe... to me it's the antithesis of education - it's perpetuating keeping people steeped in ignorance and fairy tales as fact.

Not to mention that they ignore the fundamental fact that each of the religions involved (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) cannot, by definition and by their own texts, accept the others as legitimate or as anything but heresy... Conveniently whitewashed in the usual 'many paths to god' tripe.

http://claremontlincoln.org/academics/d ... s-degrees/

And there are whole libraries full of this bollocks, such a waste of paper and education. Libraries full of Harry Potter books would be more beneficial to society.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

And there are whole libraries full of this bollocks, such a waste of paper and education. Libraries full of Harry Potter books would be more beneficial to society.

I see you haven't taken the lessons of the Library of Alexandria to heart.

[DaveDodo007]

Ermph. I'll have to look at your materials later -- my brain is still half asleep. I guess offhand I don't share your ire. And I'm not sure that has anything to do with me being deeply religious and spiritual. It probably has something to do with my viewing that which atheists and skeptics do as not fundamentally different from what the religious do. That said, many times I've observed that, if I hadn't been an atheist, I likely would have been a monk. And this year, with my recent involvement in the Unitarian church, and some educating from a fellow atheist about her experiences in them, my view is somewhat qualified. I could see myself going to seminary to be a UU minister, though it's not a practicality in many ways. And I'm grateful to my local UU minister for teaching me things about both other faiths and my own that i didn't know. But again, I'm nosing around the issue and not properly meeting it. Brain is too groggy, I'll try to come back later.

Seriously, I have no time for philosophy so do you really think I should give a shit about the assertion that god exists and this is what he thinks. Religious people existing is a problem but only education away from the fairy tales is the solution.

[Tero]

Yeah that was my last problem with religion: philosophy is too sleepy. William lane craig:zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Svartalf]

The utter bollocks of it disgusts me.

Yesterday I heard an article on public radio about the theology program of Claremont College, how they have integrated degrees in other faiths because their Christian base was dwindling. It was full of buzzwords like "multi-faith dialogue" and presented as 'isn't this a wonderful thing?' However, the whole notion that this is an acceptable subject for education - memorising all the intricacies of religious nonsense of any stripe... to me it's the antithesis of education - it's perpetuating keeping people steeped in ignorance and fairy tales as fact.

Not to mention that they ignore the fundamental fact that each of the religions involved (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) cannot, by definition and by their own texts, accept the others as legitimate or as anything but heresy... Conveniently whitewashed in the usual 'many paths to god' tripe.

http://claremontlincoln.org/academics/d ... s-degrees/

Actually, if you can stand the bullshit, it's quite the subject.. has had a lot more time to develop than potterology, Tolkien lore, or Star Trek Science...

and some of the finest minds of the last 2000 years have attached most of their work to tackling it... man if Thomas Aquinas had worked on something serious... but as it is, he still is a major thinker... lets not forget the likes of Pierre Abélard and Meister Eckhardt

[Jason]

The utter bollocks of it disgusts me.

Yesterday I heard an article on public radio about the theology program of Claremont College, how they have integrated degrees in other faiths because their Christian base was dwindling. It was full of buzzwords like "multi-faith dialogue" and presented as 'isn't this a wonderful thing?' However, the whole notion that this is an acceptable subject for education - memorising all the intricacies of religious nonsense of any stripe... to me it's the antithesis of education - it's perpetuating keeping people steeped in ignorance and fairy tales as fact.

Not to mention that they ignore the fundamental fact that each of the religions involved (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) cannot, by definition and by their own texts, accept the others as legitimate or as anything but heresy... Conveniently whitewashed in the usual 'many paths to god' tripe.

http://claremontlincoln.org/academics/d ... s-degrees/

And there are whole libraries full of this bollocks, such a waste of paper and education. Libraries full of Harry Potter books would be more beneficial to society.

Librarians with bouncy boobs would be more beneficial still - a sudden rise in many library users.

[Bella Fortuna]

Knew I should have been a librarian!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Knew I should have been a librarian!

Brenda was a DD in a 120 pound package.

[Bella Fortuna]

Knew I should have been a librarian!

Brenda was a DD in a 120 pound package.

I'm not going to be either of those anytime soon.

[Ian]

they have integrated degrees in other faiths because their Christian base was dwindling.

There's the silver lining. They're having to include people of other religions because their original base is perpetually shrinking. That's how religion goes away - not with a bang, but with a fade. They're grasping for relevance and trying to ignore the inexorable decline of their role in society.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Knew I should have been a librarian!

Brenda was a DD in a 120 pound package.

I'm not going to be either of those anytime soon.

You're nearly a foot taller than her.