You go to any big-name divinity school, like Harvard or Yale, you won't find any theologians who will defend creationism. Even the Vatican supports evolution. Most theologians consider most of the Old Testament "mythish", but it's taken literally by a lot of everyday Christians.
To a certain extent, I think the fundamentalist theology is more accurate with regard to the Bible. If you're into the Bible, that is.
But why is there such a big difference between Christians you meet on the street and their leaders? It seems like the academic theologians are far more liberal.
2006-12-02 16:10:26 · 11 answers · asked by STFU Dude 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ok, ok, as serious as theologians get. Which isn't very serious.
2006-12-02 16:19:17 · update #1
It's because they never trickle down the "good" stuff from the top, see?
The 'street Christians' you speak of are merely regurgitating the same half-a-dozen or so Bible verses that they've been told to memorize and are expected to reel in their catch.
Ergo, the difference you speak of... maybe.
Besides the guys at the top are also busy back-pedalling about some errors of commission and errors of omission from the days of yore, I imagine.
Peace be with you.
2006-12-02 16:20:40 · answer #1 · answered by Arf Bee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first problem is that you are looking for theologians at Harvard and Yale. While I am sure there must be some people at those institution with a biblical faith, universities are not know for harboring creationists in any department. Universities have long been in favour of people of liberal ideology.
As for the question of why people with good theology disagree with these people, it is mostly a matter of worldview because the evidence actually supports both theories and which one is on top is based on what the person interpreting the evidence's beliefs were before looking at it.
In general, good theology is biblically based and any historic or literary tests show that the bible is in fact the most well preserved book with the most accurate factes about the past. This makes the question not whether the bible is right or wrong, because historically it has been shown to be accurate, but whether you believe that it is in fact God-inspired.
If you believe that bible is the inspired word of God, you use it as your presuppository knowledge, and based on that you interpret the evidence you see to fit that modal, however, if you have a uniformitarian perspective, you take the side of what is currently the scientific bias, despite the fact that neither can be proven.
In the end it all comes down to faith, and how old you think the earth is. You can take the side of the creator God who executed and witnessed the events unfolding, or you can base your belief on what man assumes. Personally, I side with God, I figure he knows what he's talking about since his textbook on the origin of the universe hasn't changed in 4000 years since it was given to moses, whereas the scientific elite change their minds daily.
2006-12-02 16:26:58 · answer #2 · answered by acaykath 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, of all there is no way to prove the claims of either camp.. Evolution is based on a theory. A man made one at that. Scientist, based on scientific fact tell us how they believe it happened. But even they don't know for sure. And yes I'm being a little redundant here. But I'm so tired of Evolutionist talking about it like it is a cold hard fact.You want to talk about going on faith? I think that scientist have some of the strongest faith in the knowledge of man that I have ever seen. I believe that most so called regular Christians choose to believe in the bible because it comes from a higher power. It comes down to believing what man has come up with, or in believing something that you believe comes from God. .
2006-12-02 16:29:37 · answer #3 · answered by waltinaw74 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a lot of older Christians like my mother who believe that every word of scripture is literally true. This is how they were raised. Nothing is going to change their minds. I tell her that Christianity has nothing to fear from science. Whether you believe that Adam and Eve actually lived or whether you believe it is a story past down from one generation to the next to teach about obedience to God, the message of the story is still the same. Look at the story of Noah. Does it really matter if the rain flooded the entire planet or just his valley? The point of the story would be exactly the same.
2006-12-02 16:26:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have good and bad theologians, just as you have serious lay people and airheads. Many people who claim to be Christian do not even know what their own church teach much less the Bible.
As far as the Vatican goes I think the Roman Church is one of the greatest frauds in history.
2006-12-02 16:23:45 · answer #5 · answered by G3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Galatians 5:19-23, or thereabouts. Christians will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Others will exhibit the works of the flesh. yet another element from very own fact: every person you meet who makes an excellent deal of their faith shortly after assembly them isn't a Christian. they are oftentimes con artists. a real Christian does not sense the could make a custom of their "faith" like that. .
2016-10-17 15:27:29 · answer #6 · answered by barn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately many people have educated themselves into imbecility. On the other hand Christians just study the Bible and take it as it is. There you are.
I Cr 13;8a
12-2-6
2006-12-02 16:13:19 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't know there were any serious theologians. My understanding was that they are all funny. But now I read your question and I see I was uninformed. There are serious theologians after all.
As for everyday Christians, they are serious, that is, they think they are serious; actually they are funny.
2006-12-02 16:12:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"And they shall come to me on that day and say "Lord, Lord
did we not cast demons out in your name, and did we not heal the sick"! "And I shall say to them "Be gone from me, for I
NEVER knew you""You shall know them by their fruits"
Don't waste your time with such mundane questions and speculations.
If you are a christian all you have to be concerned about is
love and obedience to Christ, feeding the poor, helping the sick,
and being kind in evry way you can..
"For what is it that the Lord requires of you, That you do what is
right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God"..
These are the only things that really matter, so focus on what it means to be a Christian, and stop worrying about all the other
junk or your focus will pull you away from the REAL meaning of
who you are in Christ, and who God is in your life..
2006-12-02 16:45:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have never wanted to be part of the popular opinion, I want to do my own home work and think from there.
2006-12-02 16:13:26 · answer #10 · answered by Ulrika 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋