I guess what I'd like to address today, is the issue of what at least I understand Theology to be, and what I understand Religion to be. I encourage anyone with something to add, critique or criticize these definitions to please tell me, even if bluntly. These definitions are still in very much a formation stage.
Contrary to what some may believe, I hold that Theology and Religion are not one and the same. On the contrary, they are two very different disciplines. They often overlap and contribute to the other, and in other cases, they remain separate.
Theology is the intellectual study of the divine abstract, via analysis of things ranging from scriptures, philosophical thought, and human behavior. Theology never jumps to conclusions, and is careful and meticulous in it's work. It seeks to prove it's conclusions with evidence, but the very nature of it's subject matter will always leave more knowledge, more depth to be explored. Theology's main weakness is that it can become too far removed from the human condition, and lose it's reverence, it's wonder and awe, for the very thing it studies: the Divine.
Religion is the application of moral codes, rituals and dialogue with the Divine to form a working system of order and understanding to the world around humanity. Religion is something that gives lives meaning, and can help answer the deep questions that all human beings must face at one time in their life or another.
In in the ideal, Religion is the practical application of what Theology has to offer. It also serves as a check on Theology to keep it from losing sight of it's duty to mankind and the reverence for the Divine.
Religion's main weakness, is that unlike Theology, it is not always intellectual. Religion is not always satisfied with the long process that Theology endures to seek it's answers, and if an answer is needed or they are merely impatient, people who use Religion can take quicker routes that may not be for the good of all. If not kept in check by the intellectual nature of Theology, Religion can degrade into extremism and only look at it's scriptures, or other basis in the most flawed and quick way of literalism. Religion has been used to justify some of the worst crimes of humanity; slavery, oppression and genocide have all been done in the name of Divine.
The problem with the modern spiritual world in our day and age, is that not everyone wants to commit to the long and complicated nature of Theology. Not everyone has the time or the drive to seek answers through the theological method of slow and meticulous process of forming thesis and proving it through study and research.
This in itself is not a bad thing. Not everyone can be a Theologian, just as not everyone can be a doctor, a scientist, or otherwise. The problem is that when people who are not willing to become Theologians themselves take the reins of Religion into their own hands. Without the proper Theological background, those who take Religion into their own hands risk turning all that both disciplines work for into a force that harms humanity.
These definitions also apply to men and women who seek to hold to no Theology or Religion. I can respect an Atheist or Agnostic who can explain intellectually their reasons for not believing in the presence of the Divine, as a Theologian would for the opposite argument. What I cannot respect is those who become Atheist merely because like their counterparts in Theism, are too impatient or lazy to seek intellectual answers and take the religion of Atheism into their own hands - in other words, the counterpart of radicals in Theism.
Contrary to what some may believe, I hold that Theology and Religion are not one and the same. On the contrary, they are two very different disciplines. They often overlap and contribute to the other, and in other cases, they remain separate.
Theology is the intellectual study of the divine abstract, via analysis of things ranging from scriptures, philosophical thought, and human behavior. Theology never jumps to conclusions, and is careful and meticulous in it's work. It seeks to prove it's conclusions with evidence, but the very nature of it's subject matter will always leave more knowledge, more depth to be explored. Theology's main weakness is that it can become too far removed from the human condition, and lose it's reverence, it's wonder and awe, for the very thing it studies: the Divine.
Religion is the application of moral codes, rituals and dialogue with the Divine to form a working system of order and understanding to the world around humanity. Religion is something that gives lives meaning, and can help answer the deep questions that all human beings must face at one time in their life or another.
In in the ideal, Religion is the practical application of what Theology has to offer. It also serves as a check on Theology to keep it from losing sight of it's duty to mankind and the reverence for the Divine.
Religion's main weakness, is that unlike Theology, it is not always intellectual. Religion is not always satisfied with the long process that Theology endures to seek it's answers, and if an answer is needed or they are merely impatient, people who use Religion can take quicker routes that may not be for the good of all. If not kept in check by the intellectual nature of Theology, Religion can degrade into extremism and only look at it's scriptures, or other basis in the most flawed and quick way of literalism. Religion has been used to justify some of the worst crimes of humanity; slavery, oppression and genocide have all been done in the name of Divine.
The problem with the modern spiritual world in our day and age, is that not everyone wants to commit to the long and complicated nature of Theology. Not everyone has the time or the drive to seek answers through the theological method of slow and meticulous process of forming thesis and proving it through study and research.
This in itself is not a bad thing. Not everyone can be a Theologian, just as not everyone can be a doctor, a scientist, or otherwise. The problem is that when people who are not willing to become Theologians themselves take the reins of Religion into their own hands. Without the proper Theological background, those who take Religion into their own hands risk turning all that both disciplines work for into a force that harms humanity.
These definitions also apply to men and women who seek to hold to no Theology or Religion. I can respect an Atheist or Agnostic who can explain intellectually their reasons for not believing in the presence of the Divine, as a Theologian would for the opposite argument. What I cannot respect is those who become Atheist merely because like their counterparts in Theism, are too impatient or lazy to seek intellectual answers and take the religion of Atheism into their own hands - in other words, the counterpart of radicals in Theism.
