Theology and religious belief

[dingnecros]

Topic:
Can one study theology without being religious themselves i.e. be an atheist

My stand:
Yes one can do that as what you study has nothing to what you believe in.

Counter-Stand:
You have to believe in the concept of god to fully understand the reason for a particular belief or to get any amount of understanding of any religion


Any thoughts from the ATOT crowd??

 

[olds]

Studying something and fully understanding something are two different things.
/thread

 

[Ronstang]

If you couldn't how could anyone study serial killers.

 

[rudeguy]

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
--HERBERT SPENCER

 

[Shawn]

 

[SlitheryDee]

People study dead religions don't they?

 

[dennilfloss]

Can one study astronomy without being an alien?

 

[dingnecros]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
People study dead religions don't they?

the question is not follow the same religion that is being studied but the belief that a god exists before undertaking a study of religion. Almost all religions have a concept of a superior being

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: dingnecros

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
People study dead religions don't they?

the question is not follow the same religion that is being studied but the belief that a god exists before undertaking a study of religion. Almost all religions have a concept of a superior being

with that thinking, one would have had to do some research on religions to not believe in a superior being. So this question makes no sense.

 

[dingnecros]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
--HERBERT SPENCER

Nice quote... had not come across this one

 

[darkswordsman17]

Well plenty of people subscribe to a certain faith without knowing much of anything about it, so I don't know why the opposite can't be true.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: dingnecros
Counter-Stand:
You have to believe in the concept of god to fully understand the reason for a particular belief or to get any amount of understanding of any religion

This is an assertion. Can you support it?

 

[MovingTarget]

The study of theology doesn't necessitate belief. A lot of it has to do with history, whether you believe or not. The development of doctrines, historical interpretations, political/intellectual factions, etc. are also involved, and can be discussed/studied as matter-of-fact. I have known one or two atheists who have degrees in theology, so it isn't a stretch.

 

[sandorski]

Theology is an attempt to make Logical sense of the Religion. You don't need Hocus Pocus to understand Theology.

 

[dingnecros]

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: dingnecros
Counter-Stand:
You have to believe in the concept of god to fully understand the reason for a particular belief or to get any amount of understanding of any religion

This is an assertion. Can you support it?

I am not asserting it - the other person is and hence I cannot be the person who can clarify it ... maybe I can ask them tomorrow

 

[timosyy]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
--HERBERT SPENCER

This. Depends how you come at it, really. Since you're interested in the first place, it's probably fine.