How is the theology taught in seminary different from the theology preached from the pulpit?

Question

Theologian critics of the books of Sam Harris & Richard Dawkins & Victor Stenger often say something like, "...but you're not disproving the God I teach about."

However, it seems they are focusing in on the God that is described in pulpits and Bible studies around the world.

So how does the God described by theologians in seminaries different from the God described to the congregations, and how are these differences justified by the theologians, other scholars, the pastors, etc.?

Answer 1

Well, I took correspondence courses at Liberty University (Does that count?). And then, I was a substitute preacher for those who were sick or on vacation.

If so, I noticed that each church where I preached had their own preconcieved interpretation of the Bible. For example, one time, well several times, I preached the theme of Jesus trying to get us to forgive each other. That went pretty well until I quoted the Jesus verse about "If you don't forgive others, our father in Heaven will not forgive you."

Wow! The heads started nodding "no". Most of the folks felt they had every right to hold a grudge against anyone who had hurt them in the past. -- Go figure.

Answer 2

Organized religion gives different descriptions of the same Supreme God. It's called BIG BUSINESS.

The strategy is to divide and conquer.

Isolating mankind into many small groups by convincing them that only they are right and all the other groups are wrong will keep them busy opposing each other.

Convincing them that only they are right and everybody else is wrong will prevent them from realizing they are all created by the same God with the guaranteed destiny of becoming part of the Family of God.

Answer 3

I don't know about you but in the, "church of 'GOD', reformation movement, there is no difference.