Intelligence Needed for Theology?

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No, high IQ is not required. You have to be willing to work hard and seek help if you need it.
 
Well yeah that makes perfect sense. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m wondering if to understand theology (which is closely related to philosophy), an intellegence aboe a certain degree is necessary to succeed. I’m wondering if you’re Catholic? 🙂
 
Well yeah that makes perfect sense. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m wondering if to understand theology (which is closely related to philosophy), an intellegence aboe a certain degree is necessary to succeed. I’m wondering if you’re Catholic? 🙂
 
“Common sense in an uncommon degree, is what men call wisdom.” An old saying I love.

I once heard a sermon where the priest ended with a thought. “Wisdom is a gift from God, intelligence is not.”
Is the human attribute of intelligence in a high form, helpful in the study of theology. Of course. It is helpful in the study of any academic discipline. But living life isn’t an academic discipline, it is gift from God.

I think at the Pearly Gates, St. Peter isn’t going to check your I.Q. He’ll read your heart!
Shalom.
 
A person of average or slightly below average intelligence could probably “learn” theology, but high intelligence is obviously necessary to competently apply theological principles to complicated questions. That this will offend some people does not make it untrue.
 
Well if we describe intelligence as the ability/potential to learn and understand concepts, it would make sense that would apply to other academic disciplines but theology differs greatly from other academic studies as theology essentially has a limited amount of concepts that need to be learned. And then it is also believed that God chooses to reveal things to whoever he sees fit, not that the smartest people get all this theological insight. So would it make sense that intelligence may help in learning the material faster, but since it’s a limited amount of it and the fact that people who learn it are (usually) practicing Catholics who are already immersed in the culture, it doesn’t have a huge effect on it? What are your thoughts on that? 🙂 Also what do you mean “to competently apply theological principles to complicated questions”? Thank you very much!
 
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Go can reveal anything to anyone, but I was speaking about ordinary cases. Barring special divine intervention, one needs intelligence to understand (and especially to apply to technically complicated questions of dogmatic theology), just as is the case in any academic discipline
 
Well, there are some areas of theology that yes, I do think a degree of intelligence is required. But theology is more than that, and we should not discount the power of experiencing God personally. This is of higher value.
 
I would say probably yes. The biggest help is to have a working knowledge of Western philosophy, the Greeks anyway, specifically Plato and Aristotle. If you have successfully completed a handful of philosophy courses you can usually understand and learn from Christian theologians, Catholic or otherwise. This is because theology draws very heavily from philosophy, along with Church tradition and Sacred Scripture. Aquinas is probably one of the more demanding (but worth it); modern ones like Kierkegaard or Barth (don’t know him well at all) are difficult for me. Augustine, easy, piece of cake - ditto Luther. Early Church Fathers are pretty easy to understand too, again, speaking generally, though there are definitely exceptions. I get a lot more out of theology than math, that is for sure.
 
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Is it bad that I’m not drawn towards theology, other than the need to practice the virtues and fruits of the Holy Spirit and worthy reception of Sacraments? (and the central doctrines and dogmas)

I understand its necessity for Christendom…but am I obligated to seek theology at a personal level?
 
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