Why do people say Theology is Pathetic or Stupid?

[adawgj]

I really don’t understand how some people say theology is stupid. It seems to me that saying that eliminates an intellectual endeavor to gain better understanding of God and beliefs. It also tells me that one has a mind that is closed.

Could anybody care to elaborate or enlighten me.

 

[Oreoracle]

I don’t think theology as a discipline is necessarily stupid, but it seems pointless to seek a degree in theology for a few reasons (and I don’t just say that because I’m an atheist).

For one, it’s usually the least lucrative Ph.D offered by a university. Unless you’re talking about a general religious studies program, it’s also an extremely narrow major, with pretty much only two possible career trajectories: teaching or preaching. Thirdly, you don’t really need formal training to address the central questions of the discipline (the same goes for the broader subject of philosophy).

 

[Amandil]

I really don’t understand how some people say theology is stupid. It seems to me that saying that eliminates an intellectual endeavor to gain better understanding of God and beliefs. It also tells me that one has a mind that is closed.

Could anybody care to elaborate or enlighten me.

Because more and more people, because of the mass confusion enacted by devils of this age, are succumbing to absurd and frankly demonic ideas of skepticism and subjectivism.

Religious skepticism says its impossible to know anything about God(as I know at least one person here who professes the catholic faith is actually advocating, Lord forgive him ), and which makes the pursuit of theology meaningless.

Then religious subjectivism claims that religion is a construct or is dependent on our own “experiences” rather than any objective knowledge of God and what He has revealed. Which they, in contradiction of their own philosophy of subjectivism, claim that these “experiences” are the only reality they need. Thus they negate the need for the Church, the sacraments, the ministerial priesthood, etc., all of which Christ established for our good and as the means of growth in holiness so that we can be prepared for eternity with Him and the Father. Religious subjectivism makes a “god” out of the person, who gets to decide for themselves now what is true or not true, “good” or “evil”.

And if individuals decide for themselves what religion is, it negates the objective nature of theology and becomes just one more idea on the ocean of subjective opinions.

Both philosophies obscure the mind and heart and its ability to know God instead of revealing it, which is precisely the goal of theology to begin with. And if God is obscured, then He cannot be known.

And if He cannot be known, then we cannot have a relationship with Him, thus the devil’s ends are satisfied.

Both of these are demonic philosophies of the evil one, and I’m sure he’s quite entertained by the subtlety of his work in getting so many people to fall for his deceptions.

 

[christus_vincit]

I don’t think theology as a discipline is necessarily stupid, but it seems pointless to seek a degree in theology for a few reasons (and I don’t just say that because I’m an atheist).

At this point is does seem like you are saying this because you are an atheist.

For one, it’s usually the least lucrative Ph.D offered by a university.

That depends entirely on the university. There are many Catholic universities and institutions which hold their theology Ph.D programs in great esteem and attract many potential students because of this. There are also the pontifical universities which grant ecclesiastical degrees. These are highly challenging degrees to attain which require multilingual skills as well as a solid knowledge of philosophy.

Unless you’re talking about a general religious studies program, it’s also an extremely narrow major, with pretty much only two possible career trajectories: teaching or preaching.

Yes - but then again one who pursues this degree is aware of this. Most theology Ph.D holders have a strong desire to teach, research, and proclaim their Faith.

Thirdly, you don’t really need formal training to address the central questions of the discipline (the same goes for the broader subject of philosophy).

This is a common misconception. There are so many people out there who think that theology and philosophy are “joke” disciplines that anyone can do effectively. This is yet another product of modernity’s rampant relativism. The fact is both of these disciplines are highly nuanced sciences - an untrained mind can’t just sit down and write the Summa Theologiae . Theologians are highly trained and qualified in their fields and are far better equip to answer the “central questions” than your average “armchair” student.

 

[GEddie]

I really don’t understand how some people say theology is stupid. It seems to me that saying that eliminates an intellectual endeavor to gain better understanding of God and beliefs. It also tells me that one has a mind that is closed.

Could anybody care to elaborate or enlighten me.

Because they don’t believe that it has any reference to the world they live in.

Either they are atheists, or while nominally believing in a divinity, hold that nothing can be known about such being.

If nothing can be known about God, then trying to learn about God would be pointless (“stupid.”)

ICXC NIKA

 

[Rawb]

“If a man once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real… The map is admittedly only colored paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based upon what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map." - C. S. Lewis, *Mere Christianity *

 

[oldcelt]

Because they don’t believe that it has any reference to the world they live in.

Either they are atheists, or while nominally believing in a divinity, hold that nothing can be known about such being.

If nothing can be known about God, then trying to learn about God would be pointless (“stupid.”)

ICXC NIKA

It can be viewed as an anthropology-related subject line. What do the people of the world sat about a supreme being, how do they var, what impact do their beliefs have on their culture, etc. One could study that the rest of their life and have no belief what-so-ever.

In truth, I have always felt that a survey course of world religions should be taught at the high school level. No bias, no argument about divinity, simply the facts about each religion.

 

[adawgj]

It can be viewed as an anthropology-related subject line. What do the people of the world sat about a supreme being, how do they var, what impact do their beliefs have on their culture, etc. One could study that the rest of their life and have no belief what-so-ever.

In truth, I have always felt that a survey course of world religions should be taught at the high school level. No bias, no argument about divinity, simply the facts about each religion.

I agree with you. Having a strong sense of the beliefs of world religions would help people gain a better understanding of other peoples beliefs and cultures.

 

[GEddie]

I agree with you. Having a strong sense of the beliefs of world religions would help people gain a better understanding of other peoples beliefs and cultures.

Sure, but this would be social science rather than theology.

ICXC NIKA

 

[oldcelt]

I agree with you. Having a strong sense of the beliefs of world religions would help people gain a better understanding of other peoples beliefs and cultures.

I don’t think it could hurt.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I really don’t understand how some people say theology is stupid.

Could anybody care to elaborate or enlighten me.

It’s because they are stupid.

 

[aragonjohn1]

I really don’t understand how some people say theology is stupid. It seems to me that saying that eliminates an intellectual endeavor to gain better understanding of God and beliefs. It also tells me that one has a mind that is closed.

Could anybody care to elaborate or enlighten me.

they probably either too “iggerent” to know how little they are learning or like i before i actually took a theology class was thinking that an inordinate amount of philosophy, theology and related disciplines were just “plain ol’ stupid+ TM” and when i took the class one understood the background and form of the inspiration respect ensues and still not understand about as much but came out better.

God bless