What's more likely to make you apostate, science or theology?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

OK, what variables do you propose may affect that %?

First, observations are anecdotal, so it's not scientific, but let's imagine the personal selection has something to do with it.

Those naturally inclined to question or those who have lost faith gravitate to the fringe of theology perhaps, so the study thereof does not cause apostasy but somebody who has already lost faith gravitates there.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

First, observations are anecdotal, so it's not scientific, but let's imagine the personal selection has something to do with it.

Those naturally inclined to question or those who have lost faith gravitate to the fringe of theology perhaps, so the study thereof does not cause apostasy but somebody who has already lost faith gravitates there.

Endogeneity, everyone knows that. But what reason do we have to believe that those who lose their faith are more likely to gravitate toward theology than science? Especially since aspiring ministers study theology.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

From my experience theology/religious studies departments have a much higher % of atheists than science depts.

I agree. I think scientists are more likely to be agnostics, but maybe less likely to be atheists than someone in a religious studies department.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

Endogeneity, everyone knows that. But what reason do we have to believe that those who lose their faith are more likely to gravitate toward theology than science? Especially since aspiring ministers study theology.

You guys think too much sometimes. You seemed to me to be suggesting that the study of theology makes you apostate because it is all BS and so leads you away from the truth, as opposed to science, which is not BS. An laterntate explanation for the causality that immediately suggested itslef to me is that the study of tehology makes you apostate becasue it is BS and you realize this when you study it, while scientists aren't as likely to be apostate becasue they don't study it. I don't subscribe to this, but it just seems equally defesible as a theory.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by creekster

but it just seems equally defesible as a theory.

Can we please have a gentleman's agreement not to discuss future interests on this board? Some topics should just be out of bounds.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

Can we please have a gentleman's agreement not to discuss future interests on this board? Some topics should just be out of bounds.

defeasible, defensible, is anyone really reading htis stuff?

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by creekster

You seemed to me to be suggesting that the study of theology makes you apostate because it is all BS and so leads you away from the truth, as opposed to science, which is not BS. An laterntate explanation for the causality that immediately suggested itslef to me is that the study of tehology makes you apostate becasue it is BS and you realize this when you study it, while scientists aren't as likely to be apostate becasue they don't study it. .

Those two theories aren't mutually exclusive. People realize theology is BS because they can't make a rational defense for God, so they think God must not exist. But I think the reason they can't do it is because they're methods are a bunch of warm-fuzzy BS. With science, it's a little more clear cut, so they won't go apostate as much.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

Those two theories aren't mutually exclusive. People realize theology is BS because they can't make a rational defense for God, so they think God must not exist. But I think the reason they can't do it is because they're methods are a bunch of warm-fuzzy BS. With science, it's a little more clear cut, so they won't go apostate as much.

They are not necessarily exclusive but are on a specturm and at either end they would be. The point is that your assumption that there is a religious tryuth from which theologians are led away due to study is possibly incorrect; it could be that there simply is no religious truth and the study through critical reasoning of theology makes on realize this. There is certainly room for overlap. ANd, as I said bfore, I do not subscribe to the second theory.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by creekster

They are not necessarily exclusive but are on a specturm and at either end they would be. The point is that your assumption that there is a religious tryuth from which theologians are led away due to study is possibly incorrect; it could be that there simply is no religious truth and the study through critical reasoning of theology makes on realize this. There is certainly room for overlap. ANd, as I said bfore, I do not subscribe to the second theory.

So the theory you describe but don't subscribe to says through critical reasoning they discover there is no religious truth. OK, but that doesn't explain why scientists don't go apostate in as large numbers. I'm just postulating that critical reasoning unaided by the scientific method will take you to BS land.

[RockyBalboa]

The 2 reasons I've seen people leave the church:

1. Because they've done their own studying and come to the conclusion that the stories they've been told and learned about aren't true anymore. And yes for you "intellectuals" I know it's deeper than that.

2. Because they get offended by someone or something and quit going.

Sorry for the generic and plain examples, but ultimately that's what it boils down to.

I was tempted to say.....Sin,,,,just to get the intellectual mullah's in a tizzy.