Ask a theology student...

[Margim]

Thought I may as well throw one of these out there... Question away!

edit: Not that I expect a huge response. But one's got to try

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

1. What faith(s) are you studying? What do your studies consist of?

2. How is free will compatible with an omnipotent, omniscient deity?

3. What is the solution to the problem of evil (theodicy)?

4. Is this the best of all possible worlds?

5. Which theologian gave, in your opinion, the most convincing logical proof of the existence of God?

6. Do you plan to become a theologian/priest/etc?

 

[Eli]

Why?

(10 chars)

 

[Narz]

What made you choose to be a theology student?

 

[Margim]

1. What faith(s) are you studying? What do your studies consist of?

I'm towards the end of a double degree in Arts (I think you'd call it liberal arts in the states) and Theology. Through my Arts degree, I've done a little Islamic philosophy, and bits of Jewish and Muslim history. My theology degree is Christian, in the Baptist tradition (although not to be confused with American Southern Baptists, who are considerably in the other theological direction to myself).

My honors year is two subjects a semester and a 10,000 word essay.

2. How is free will compatible with an omnipotent, omniscient deity?

I'm not sure that we have free will, to be honest. We have freedom of choice to an extent but that is governed and influenced by our cultures, upbringing, etc.

3. What is the solution to the problem of evil (theodicy)?

Unsolved, as far as I'm aware. It exists, certainly. 'It' happens. I'm still trying to work out where it came from... we tend to maintain that God made everything, so I guess there is a tension there.

'Faith seeking understanding' is a fairly widely circulated theological motto... I'm working on it

4. Is this the best of all possible worlds?

I'm not sure what you mean, exactly... its the only world we've been given. We should do the best we can while we are here.

5. Which theologian gave, in your opinion, the most convincing logical proof of the existence of God?

I like Barth's idea here... God, as God, doesn't need our defence. Apologetics is largely a pointless idea, as in talking about an infinite, eternal being in terms of science and human logic doesn't seem to make a particular amount of sense. Something of a paradox... but I'm quite open about the fact my belief in God is dependent upon faith, somewhat irrationally so... as faith isn't faith if you have a proof.

6. Do you plan to become a theologian/priest/etc?

Heading along that way somewhere... I'll possibly consider ordination in a few years time, but feel I have to get a little 'life experience' along the way first. In the mean time, my passion lies in getting people thinking about their faith, and owning it for themselves... I'd like to be involved in teaching (and preaching, which I do a little of).

 

[Margim]

Why?

(10 chars)

Why not

What made you choose to be a theology student?

I became aware in my teenage years of the tremendous range of issues in what evangelical Christianity has traditionally taught... everything from the idea of a loving God burning mistaken people for eternity, to how did kangaroos make it to Australia from mount Ararat in Turkey.

At to that a healthy dose of childhood friends of various faiths and back grounds, a somewhat thinking introverted personality, and a love of essay writing, and theology seemed like a pretty good discipline to enter!

 

[El_Machinae]

5. Which theologian gave, in your opinion, the most convincing logical proof of the existence of God?

Anselm; FTW
He's the Descartes of theologians, as far as I'm concerned.

Margim: what do you think of the heavy use of 'faith-based excuses' amongst the mentally ill? In that, they express the same symptoms that strong believers do, but we consider them crazy (and thus label them to be mentally ill).

 

[Margim]

Anselm; FTW
He's the Descartes of theologians, as far as I'm concerned.

Margim: what do you think of the heavy use of 'faith-based excuses' amongst the mentally ill? In that, they express the same symptoms that strong believers do, but we consider them crazy (and thus label them to be mentally ill).

There's a difference, at least in my mind (whether you want to trust it is another question ) between believing something thats irrational, and acting irrationally (and dangerously).

 

[Erik Mesoy]

2. How is free will compatible with an omnipotent, omniscient deity?

I'm not sure that we have free will, to be honest. We have freedom of choice to an extent but that is governed and influenced by our cultures, upbringing, etc.

Not really a question, but I'm wondering what you think of the other side of this. AFAIK, it goes: God isn't strictly omnipotent, instead God is able to do anything He decides to do. He wouldn't decide to create paradoxes and the like, as that is not a Godly activity.
There are some bible verses I don't remember that support this, something like "Anything God has commanded can not be stopped" and "He who begins a work in Christ will finish it even unto the last day".

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Ask a theology student...

How do you reconcile your very high level of education and general knowledge, as a modern man, with the belief systems of primitive people who lived thousands of years ago?

 

[Margim]

Not really a question, but I'm wondering what you think of the other side of this. AFAIK, it goes: God isn't strictly omnipotent, instead God is able to do anything He decides to do. He wouldn't decide to create paradoxes and the like, as that is not a Godly activity.
There are some bible verses I don't remember that support this, something like "Anything God has commanded can not be stopped" and "He who begins a work in Christ will finish it even unto the last day".

Probably would approach it the same way... since God is an infinite being, we cannot really try and define God in any way other than that which God uses to define Godself...

I thus sit with the possibility that God could be omnipotent... but equally recognise that he might not be (certainly the idea of become human suggests some sort of self-limitation).

 

[Margim]

How do you reconcile your very high level of education and general knowledge, as a modern man, with the belief systems of primitive people who lived thousands of years ago?

There is no real tension, as far as i see it. The main element of ancient belief systems I draw from is the belief in a God.

I recognise the historical/cultural gap between us and them... and certainly take this into account when I approach, for example, reading the bible.

The question of God/no-God is not something, ultimately, that can be resolved by education or lack thereof. There is either an infinite being, or there isn't. I accept that there is, and the God I percieve calls be to make the world a better place for others.

 

[classical_hero]

Since you say that you are a Baptist, then which of these do you agree on.
Bible Authority
Autonomy of the Local Church
Priesthood of all believers.
Two Ordinances, Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Individual Soul Liberty
Separation of Church and State
Two offices, The Pastor and Deacon.

 

[CartesianFart]

I'm towards the end of a double degree in Arts (I think you'd call it liberal arts in the states) and Theology. Through my Arts degree, I've done a little Islamic philosophy, and bits of Jewish and Muslim history. My theology degree is Christian, in the Baptist tradition

Intresting mix.I wouldn't be surprised with admixture of Islamic philosophy and your Baptist belief,that you could possibly become an averroist.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

There is no real tension, as far as i see it. The main element of ancient belief systems I draw from is the belief in a God.

I recognise the historical/cultural gap between us and them... and certainly take this into account when I approach, for example, reading the bible.

The question of God/no-God is not something, ultimately, that can be resolved by education or lack thereof. There is either an infinite being, or there isn't. I accept that there is, and the God I percieve calls be to make the world a better place for others.

I understand what youre saying, its just that theres so much that comes along with it, not just belief in God. Speaking from my own personal experience, it was necessary for me to seperate God from the ancient holy books in order to believe again. In other words I removed the baby from the bathwater

 

[spankey]

I understand what youre saying, its just that theres so much that comes along with it, not just belief in God. Speaking from my own personal experience, it was necessary for me to seperate God from the ancient holy books in order to believe again. In other words I removed the baby from the bathwater

It sounds like you created your own religion or have become God in your own existence. How would theology reconcile that?

not a troll, just curious as to the underpinnings of faith.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

It sounds like you created your own religion or have become God in your own existence. How would theology reconcile that?

not a troll, just curious as to the underpinnings of faith.

I believe in God, but I dont believe in the Bible. Often people reject God, because they cant bring themselves to believe in everything else contained within the Bible. They dont realise that God cant be explained or contained within books. Theres no language, living or dead, that can ever even begin to explain God. The road to God is wordless and begins inside of us, not within books.

But lets not hijack Margims thread. We now return you to your regular programming

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Anselm

Oh, if it's anybody, it's certainly not Anselm

It's interesting that you mention Descartes, since Descartes pulls out Anselm when he has reached a dead end in his own attempt to justify the universe and God (though it is not truly a dead end, just evidence of Descartes' own mental block which prevented him from proceeding as he said he would, rationally and skeptically).

 

[spankey]

I believe in God, but I dont believe in the Bible. Often people reject God, because they cant bring themselves to believe in everything else contained within the Bible. They dont realise that God cant be explained or contained within books. Theres no language, living or dead, that can ever even begin to explain God. The road to God is wordless and begins inside of us, not within books.

But lets not hijack Margims thread. We now return you to your regular programming

Well, I tried to put theology in my question!!!!!

Margim--do your studies look at comparative religion analysis, usch as subsect of protestantism or buddhism?

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

Thought I may as well throw one of these out there... Question away!

edit: Not that I expect a huge response. But one's got to try

Doesn't it ever pain you to know that theology is the study of absolutely nothing?