Statistics in theology

[Matt241]

Hello. This may seem a rather odd question to ask, but I’ve been wondering if there is an element of statistics, or report-writing in a theology degree? I apologise if I’ve posted this in the wrong area.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

Hello. This may seem a rather odd question to ask, but I’ve been wondering if there is an element of statistics, or report-writing in a theology degree? I apologise if I’ve posted this in the wrong area.

If you mean as a required course, I had to take a statistic class for my undergraduate degree. And, yes, there is plenty of writing!

 

[Matt241]

Thanks for your reply. I just don’t see how statistics could be relevant in a religious degree, unless you’re counting the number of times a particular word is used in sacred scripture…the class I’m starting in May has Critical Thinking and Writing Skills as a sort of “prep unit”, but there’s no specific mention of “Statistics”, per se.

Would you mind giving an example of how statistics are used in theology, please?

 

[Lamentation]

Thanks for your reply. I just don’t see how statistics could be relevant in a religious degree, unless you’re counting the number of times a particular word is used in sacred scripture…the class I’m starting in May has Critical Thinking and Writing Skills as a sort of “prep unit”, but there’s no specific mention of “Statistics”, per se.

Would you mind giving an example of how statistics are used in theology, please?

Depends on your definition of theology. If by theology you mean to say the 4-5 years in the major seminary, then you might utilize a concordance of a certain text you are examining (e.g. the Bible, writings of a certain theologian, etc.).

Among the many things a concordance provides might be the number of usages of a word, which one could use to show such things as the background of the author (e.g. και (“and”) commonly overused at the beginning of sentences in the Gospel writings represents a “Hebrew-ification”, or the usage of Hebrew constructions in a different language (in this case, Greek), suggesting that the author was primarily of a Hebrew cultural background.), or perhaps the importance of a word in one’s line of thought (think of the usage of words in Sein und Ziet by Martin Heidegger, especially his usage (and spelling) of “Dasein”).

If you’re talking a more strict interpretation of theology to mean “thought about God” or “the study of God”, then you may have to be a little more creative, but I suppose even the above runs into that as well, as it’s fairly hard to do theology without consulting Public Revelation (i.e. the Biblical texts).

 

[Matt241]

I’m not studying theology through a major seminary, I’m studying through a private college. Can you tell me where a concordance may be obtained (sounds like a pretty useful tool)?

 

[Lamentation]

I’m not studying theology through a major seminary, I’m studying through a private college. Can you tell me where a concordance may be obtained (sounds like a pretty useful tool)?

Strong’s Greek Concordance:
smile.amazon.com/Strongs-Expanded-Exhaustive-Concordance-Bible/dp/1418541680

The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament:
amazon.com/Englishmans-Greek-Concordance-New-Testament/dp/1565632079

For a cheaper (i.e. free) way, BibleHub is pretty good.
e.g. ψηφίζω can be studied at biblehub.com/greek/5585.htm

Even at a private college they could be useful, although more likely at the Graduate level.