To any Divinity Grads: Would it be worth as an Atheist to study Divinity?

[Verdanty]

An odd question I’m sure.

I’m a Religious Studies scholar by training. The field is a hash of Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology and essentially the inverse of Theology; we usually operate on the premise that the object of study’s supernatural claim (if any) is false, or at very least that the objective truth it claims is irrelevant, and attempt to explain how the movement formed, why people practice it and what impact it has upon the world.

Within this field my specialism is Roman Catholicism, and I take a particular interest in the Catholic world Post-Vatican II; I have written several academic articles on the subjects of the so called “Resistance” within the Society of Saint Pius X, the Culture War over Same Sex Marriage and currently am working on something pertaining to the new “post-Catholic” Ireland.

I would like to study further, but I am torn between two paths. I could progress onto a higher level of Religious Studies focus, perhaps even to attempt a PhD as I already hold pre-requisites. But I have also considered broadening my scope since I was offered a rather unusual opportunity; to study a masters of divinity with a Catholic institution.

As my focus is specifically on Catholicism, I already have the capacity to use Latin and Greek to a level that enables me to access the writings of the Church Fathers. I feel I have a fairly good grasp of encyclical knowledge and doctrine/dogma, and I already hold postgraduate qualifications in Philosophy.

Would it be worth taking on these studies. I naturally will not be doing this as a form of prayer, meditation or way to approach God; rather I wish to understand my subject as deeply and thoroughly as I possibly can, and to this end with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of writings to explore I don’t really want to find myself going over the same old stuff I already know or (and I don’t say this in any sense to demean it) take part in a glorified prayer retreat.

I would appreciate any (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Ok, I’m of two minds on this.

My first mind is my years of career counseling. They tell me that as an atheist your job prospects studying Catholocism are going to be slim to none. The benefits you’d get from studying Catholicism would likely not net you any benefit in a religious organization because they’d expect you believed. In a secular org, it’d probably be not much good, too, because it’s not like Catholics hold that much world power politically, save a few nations that remain primarily Catholic.

My second mind is as a student who developed a love for philosophy. It says GO FOR IT! If something confuses you, if you want to know more, just DO IT. You will never be satisfied until you do. You may always regret such a missed opportunity to truly dig into something that you are curious about.

And to be honest, it wouldn’t hurt your eventual Ph.D., either.

So, to me, I guess the bottom line really would be money. If you have the money, do the more “frivolous” option and enjoy the study of Catholic theology.

If you don’t have the money/time then do the thing that will get you a job.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

First question, what interests you the most? What is your passion? Ph.D is a long hard slog. There are many ABTs who find earning a living takes over.

Second question

Where would this career path take you? Or is that not a concern.

Third question
What is the quality of supervision going to be?
What’s your research question, for your thesis, and. what and who is backing that.

What resources will be available to you

 

[Verdanty]

Thank you Xanthippe for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

I’ve already got a job, as a Religion teacher at a Catholic school no less (yes, they know I am an Atheist). Money and career advancement are not my main reasons for doing this, although it would possibly improve the reception/income of my journal articles to go down the PhD route faster. If I was to try and find prospects at a higher level it would probably be tenure in a Religious Studies department; a far off prospect perhaps but while I know individuals who have I’ve no desire to pretend to have faith to improve my job prospects.

That in itself is something that does trouble me about Theology, while I don’t doubt the vast majority of students are devout believers, I know of some who have become Atheists over time and now pretend to have faith to avoid being unemployable; I find myself wondering how widespread that phenomenon of undercover Atheists is, since even the few I know of would never have told me and I found out by being in the right place at the right time.

As you say though, money wise I certainly could have chosen a more lucrative field. I don’t regret it though, I’ve enjoyed far more personal development doing this than I ever would have in a “hard” science.

 

[Verdanty]

First question, what interests you the most? What is your passion? Ph.D is a long hard slog. There are many ABTs who find earning a living takes over.

My passion is finding in insight in how the mind of a believer works, what makes them tick and why they respond as they do. Catholicism was my natural go to having been raised as a Catholic and initially doing so as a believer, after my own faith faded I continued to study from a purely academic standpoint.

I may not believe in the Trinity or Allah, but I am fascinated by the power these beings that to me does not exist can/could hold entire continents in thrall.

Where would this career path take you? Or is that not a concern.

Not a great concern, I will likely continue teaching for some time; I do wonder if it would give a greater degree of credibility to my research/articles; since I would have in a sense a seal of approval for my understanding of doctrine which my secular social science qualifications do not necessarily suggest.

What is the quality of supervision going to be?

This I am rather more dubious about. The institution operates primarily as a higher seminary. I suspect since I am not being prepared for the priesthood I would not be a priority, particuarly since a great portion of this would be done at distance since I would be doing this part time (which has been confirmed as acceptable). The qualification itself and the access to their library/resources is what I find especially inviting.

What’s your research question, for your thesis, and. what and who is backing that.

This is something currently undergoing discussion, I have yet to settle on a title with the person likely to be backing it but it will be exploring the interaction between successors of the existentialist movement in Europe and the influence felt in Catholic scholarship.