Theology has no place in a university
Much to the chagrine of everyone Richard Dawkins keeps saying things. On October 1st in a letter Richard Dawkins said that Theology has no place in today's universities:
We who doubt that "theology" is a subject at all, or who compare it with the study of leprechauns, are eagerly hoping to be proved wrong. Of course, university departments of theology house many excellent scholars of history, linguistics, literature, ecclesiastical art and music, archaeology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, iconology, and other worthwhile and important subjects. These academics would be welcomed into appropriate departments elsewhere in the university. But as for theology itself, defined as "the organised body of knowledge dealing with the nature, attributes, and governance of God", a positive case now needs to be made that it has any real content at all, and that it has any place in today's universities.
While Dawkins' letter, nuanced and thoughtful as it is, may be less than compelling to individuals who can read at a college level what of the letter's main concept? Does theology have a place in today's universities or is it tantamount to, what was it, "the study of leprechauns"? Oh-ho! Leprechauns! Oh, Dawkins. You witty rascal.
Seriously, though. Ought Theology departments be removed from universities and the professors therein be transplanted to other departments?
11 comments:
I still do not know if this is just Dawkins idiocy or if a legitimate point can be found in his lunatic rantings. I can certainly see the argument that Seminary is the place for theology while colleges and universities ought to throw the subject to the proverbial curb. But I don't know if the argument has any merit.
In my experience Theology classes were delightful opportunities to exercise what I had learned in my philosophy classes, a veritable hunting ground full of unfounded assumptions and idiotic fallacy riddled arguments. So for my part I am glad that theology departments exist.
But I also knew theology majors and saw them not grow but rather dig deeper holes and further entrench themselves in the same world views they maintained since week one of freshman year.
Academically, I don't know if Theology is somehow fundamentally different from every other department. In my mind psychology : science :: theology : philosophy. Psychology poorly applies science to the mind, whatever the fuck that is. Theology poorly applies philosophy to God, whatever the fuck that is.
If we get rid of Theology we might as well through out the Arts and Humanities as well. They are all just making this crap up anyway.
Lets just study Rocks. Rocks and Staplers. I can touch those things. everything else is made up.
Oh wait. lets just keep theology. It is true that there are some students who dont grow inthe study of theology. however, same can be said for every other department. idiots are everywhere. I think the study of theology is important if you believe in God or not. It is an aspect of our culture and I dont think its worth throwing to the curb. Also, I want to study Leprechauns! That would be so awesome!
"Lets just study Rocks. Rocks and Staplers. I can touch those things. everything else is made up."
Not "everything" else. Just "god". Culture and aesthetics exist. Love exists. memes exist. Good and bad exist. reason exists. Dark Matter exists. The gods of ancient Rome and Greece do not exist, but it is ok for Classics students to study them.
But "god" is just nonsense and idiocy.
It is possible that Dawkins is making a nuanced argument about the detrimental effects of Christianity focused Theology and the degree to which indoctrination harms society and the manner in which Theology departments can compound this harm.
But no one would ever know that, because nuance eludes Dawkins' sledgehammer of "RELIGION BAD!"
God is not the only thing in academia that is "made up."
If we live in a world were we believe Beauty exists, then we interact with Beauty. I dont believe it exists. but i study it.
And I believe it is worth studying. Because I live in a world where people live in a world with Beauty.
Also, something about the ancient gods of greece did exist, or some such non-sense.
"God is not the only thing in academia that is 'made up.'"
I agree.
That is probably the best way to refute Dawkins on this particular idiotic rant.
I may now be pro disbanding Universities. Down with Acadamia!
But does a university have any place in theology?
Dawkins is a loon. I would like to hear what he thinks about the study of mythology and the classics? If he is consistent and thinks they shouldn't be studied along with theology...then he is just a misguided fool. If he believes there study is any more prevalent than theology...then he is just a complete douchebag.
My own foray into graduate school found several of these crackpots who believe if it isn't a "hard science" (i.e. physics, math, chemistry) or and applied science ( biology, geology, astronomy)... then they should do away with it. I guess those who forget to study history will be doomed to repeat it... thank god for karma!!
In retrospect, I should have studied history. That way I could have legitimately studied the history of booze (i.e. gotten a fancy paper and not seemed like ye olde drunkard.)
strike prevalent in my post...I meant pertinent. My apologies. And I'm not bashing classics... just pointing out that Dawkins should consider it on the same level as theology as a study of a mixture of historical fact and myths.
Creating a line which seperates philosophy and theology and history and art is easy enough to do. Making that line meaningful isn't quite as each.
Unless one happens to be utilizing the "DAWKINS SMASH!" approach to nuanced debate.
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