is it possible for a nonbeliever to be a theologian?

[© tweed]

is it possible for a nonbeliever to be a theologian?

[CatoMinor]

Sometimes I get the impression some Catholic priests are that way from listening to a few of their masses.

[Blue3]

Aren't atheists more educated about religion than theists, overall?

[DC Al Fine]

Aren't atheists more educated about religion than theists, overall?

In terms of being able to identify the basic tenets, history etc, of a variety of world religions, yes, atheists are more educated. However, this advantage disappears when you get into the nitty gritty details of the religion, which is what theology entails. I suspect very few atheists could give decent explanations of say.. the various views on the eucharist and the scriptural support for each of them. This isn't necessarily a criticism of atheism as I doubt very many Christians could do the same, but becoming a theologian requires dedicating one's life to studying the religion in depth, and that's something I doubt that many atheists are willing to do.

To answer the OP, I saw an AMA on reddit from an atheist theologian at an Episcopalian seminary. From the answers therein, an atheist could probably swing it at a mainline/liberal Protestant school, but not a conservative evangelical or catholic one.

[afleitch]

Non-believer in what? God? If so, then yes. You have whole religions with associated theology that are not based on a creator god.

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

Reading it as 'non-believer in the religion whose theology one is working with', then yes, and without being downright dishonest, but one would probably have to be working with within a specific set of postmodern and/or existentialist frameworks.

[John Dibble]

Yes, in the sense that theology is the study of religion. One doesn't have to believe in the tenets of a religion to study them.

[© tweed]

Yes, in the sense that theology is the study of religion. One doesn't have to believe in the tenets of a religion to study them.

more accurately/originally, it is the study of God, or 'talk of God'.  so is it possible to study God whilst maintaining that He doesn't exist?  perhaps it is possible to study God the social phenomenon, but God Himself?  and is there any difference between the two?  such are some questions that arise.

[John Dibble]

Yes, in the sense that theology is the study of religion. One doesn't have to believe in the tenets of a religion to study them.

more accurately/originally, it is the study of God, or 'talk of God'.  so is it possible to study God whilst maintaining that He doesn't exist?  perhaps it is possible to study God the social phenomenon, but God Himself?  and is there any difference between the two?  such are some questions that arise.

Well, if God doesn't exist then could anyone actually be a theologian in that sense?

[Torie]

Unless the word "theologian" implies belief, or course a non believer can. One is just describing the sacred horizon, and the dilemmas out there, and ways to resolve them, or whatever. Would a non believer have much interest in doing that, as opposed to a religion's impact on the secular world? Most would not of course.

[ingemann]

Aren't atheists more educated about religion than theists, overall?

No not really.

[Globus Cruciger]

Aren't atheists more educated about religion than theists, overall?

In terms of being able to identify the basic tenets, history etc, of a variety of world religions, yes, atheists are more educated. However, this advantage disappears when you get into the nitty gritty details of the religion, which is what theology entails. I suspect very few atheists could give decent explanations of say.. the various views on the eucharist and the scriptural support for each of them. This isn't necessarily a criticism of atheism as I doubt very many Christians could do the same, but becoming a theologian requires dedicating one's life to studying the religion in depth, and that's something I doubt that many atheists are willing to do.

It seems to me that a significant percentage of prominant figures in the academic study of religion are non-believers. Diarmaid MacColluch, Bart D. Ehrman, etc. But I guess one could make the argument that "religious studies" is a different field from "theology".

[afleitch]

Aren't atheists more educated about religion than theists, overall?

In terms of being able to identify the basic tenets, history etc, of a variety of world religions, yes, atheists are more educated. However, this advantage disappears when you get into the nitty gritty details of the religion, which is what theology entails. I suspect very few atheists could give decent explanations of say.. the various views on the eucharist and the scriptural support for each of them. This isn't necessarily a criticism of atheism as I doubt very many Christians could do the same, but becoming a theologian requires dedicating one's life to studying the religion in depth, and that's something I doubt that many atheists are willing to do.

It seems to me that a significant percentage of prominant figures in the academic study of religion are non-believers. Diarmaid MacColluch, Bart D. Ehrman, etc. But I guess one could make the argument that "religious studies" is a different field from "theology".

It is. I could declare that a pot plant is god. I would instantly become the worlds foremost 'theologian' in the field of Seventh Day Potplantism. Anyone can claim to be a theologian; not everyone however can be so well versed in the study of religion/s without a genuine understanding of the subject matter.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Seventh Day Potplantism

That's a problem with religion these days.  New ones are sprouting up like weeds.