1. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
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    13 Sep '13 00:12
    Incredible as it may seem the following passage is taken from the Oxford
    University website. How can one of the world's most prestigious universities
    spout this nonsense?

    Theology and Religion are subjects vital to understanding what it means
    to be human – in the past and in today’s world. Theology is the study of
    God and the questions raised by the possibility of God. Religion concerns
    how humanity makes sense of its origins, purpose and destiny in relation to
    the divine.

    To study Theology and Religion requires an inquiring mind open to new
    ways of thinking and willing to grapple with complex concepts. Among all
    the subjects offered at university, Theology and Religion offers one of the
    broadest trainings in how to think – critically, logically, and with empathy.


    They are touting that the study of god(s) can improve your critical thinking!!!

    BIZARRE
  2. Standard memberRJHinds
    The Near Genius
    Fort Gordon
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    13 Sep '13 01:22
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Incredible as it may seem the following passage is taken from the Oxford
    University website. How can one of the world's most prestigious universities
    spout this nonsense?

    [i]Theology and Religion are subjects vital to understanding what it means
    to be human – in the past and in today’s world. Theology is the study of
    God and the questions raised ...[text shortened]... ]

    They are touting that the study of god(s) can improve your critical thinking!!!

    BIZARRE
    Maybe you could learn to think critically, logically, and with empathy if you took up the study of Theology and Religion. Then maybe you would not have so much trouble understanding the spiritual.

    The Instructor
  3. Standard memberkaroly aczel
    The Axe man
    Brisbane,QLD
    Joined
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    102566
    13 Sep '13 01:25
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Incredible as it may seem the following passage is taken from the Oxford
    University website. How can one of the world's most prestigious universities
    spout this nonsense?

    [i]Theology and Religion are subjects vital to understanding what it means
    to be human – in the past and in today’s world. Theology is the study of
    God and the questions raised ...[text shortened]... ]

    They are touting that the study of god(s) can improve your critical thinking!!!

    BIZARRE
    I think a truthful enquiry into just about any literature will improve critical thinking in some way. Even more if you're an atheist.

    But I agree, they shouldn't be touting it in that way .
  4. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
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    13 Sep '13 01:45
    Originally posted by karoly aczel
    I think a truthful enquiry into just about any literature will improve critical thinking in some way. Even more if you're an atheist.

    But I agree, they shouldn't be touting it in that way .
    Learning dogma increases your critical thinking ability? You have to shut down your reasoning powers to accept dogma of any kind.
  5. Standard memberRJHinds
    The Near Genius
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    13 Sep '13 02:54
    Originally posted by sonhouse
    Learning dogma increases your critical thinking ability? You have to shut down your reasoning powers to accept dogma of any kind.
    Let the education begin.


    Dogma is a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. It serves as part of the primary basis of an ideology or belief system, and it cannot be changed or discarded without affecting the very system's paradigm, or the ideology itself. They can refer to acceptable opinions of philosophers or philosophical schools, public decrees, religion, or issued decisions of political authorities.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogma

    The Instructor
  6. Joined
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    Moves
    6788
    13 Sep '13 04:541 edit
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Incredible as it may seem the following passage is taken from the Oxford
    University website. How can one of the world's most prestigious universities
    spout this nonsense?

    [i]Theology and Religion are subjects vital to understanding what it means
    to be human – in the past and in today’s world. Theology is the study of
    God and the questions raised ...[text shortened]... ]

    They are touting that the study of god(s) can improve your critical thinking!!!

    BIZARRE
    One thing it might improve is your discernment about where to post comments on the subject.
  7. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
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    13 Sep '13 06:55
    Originally posted by JS357
    One thing it might improve is your discernment about where to post comments on the subject.
    This is where we discuss religion is it not?
  8. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
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    Joined
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    13 Sep '13 06:58
    Originally posted by RJHinds
    Let the education begin.


    [b]Dogma is a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. ...
    Unlike you Sonhouse is not in the habit of using words
    inappropriately or out of context, or is your post short-
    hand for your education? (As you obviously had to look
    up 'dogma'.)
  9. Joined
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    13 Sep '13 09:39
    Nothing wrong with the study of religion. Look at this forum: many atheists discussing the various properties of god(s) as though he exists. Doesn't mean the atheists are therefore secretly theists (although most theists here would beg to differ), but simply means people are interested in religions. Why are many people religious? How does it change them? How do we imagine what god is like? How do people from different cultures view him? Why? Wat has changed in the history of religion?

    Solid questions that deserve to be studied. While I would imagine most theologians are also religious, this is certainly not a requirement.

    You understand that "theology" is not equal to "study of the christian god that definitely exists", right?
  10. Joined
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    116313
    13 Sep '13 17:51
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Incredible as it may seem the following passage is taken from the Oxford
    University website. How can one of the world's most prestigious universities
    spout this nonsense?

    [i]Theology and Religion are subjects vital to understanding what it means
    to be human – in the past and in today’s world. Theology is the study of
    God and the questions raised ...[text shortened]... ]

    They are touting that the study of god(s) can improve your critical thinking!!!

    BIZARRE
    Since the dawn of recorded history, throughout the ages and up to this present miserable day the vast majority of the world's population have claimed to have some theistic affiliation, so I guess there is some relevance in studying theology in order to understand the nature of mankind.
  11. Standard memberblack beetle
    Black Beastie
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    14606
    13 Sep '13 22:50
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Incredible as it may seem the following passage is taken from the Oxford
    University website. How can one of the world's most prestigious universities
    spout this nonsense?

    [i]Theology and Religion are subjects vital to understanding what it means
    to be human – in the past and in today’s world. Theology is the study of
    God and the questions raised ...[text shortened]... ]

    They are touting that the study of god(s) can improve your critical thinking!!!

    BIZARRE
    No, Theology and Religion do offer good trainings in thinking critically, logically and with empathy; for example, check out the following four negations:

    First negation: If the observer universe was born by a so called creator out of the combination of specific causes and conditions and it exists thanks to that combination, the universe could not be born solely thanks to that combination alone dew to the fact that the combination would never arise without the desire of the creator. However the belief “the specific cause and conditions that they formed the combination required for the creation of the observer universe are brought up by a creator” is not tenable due to the fact that the desire and the desirous one cannot be established neither as co-existent nor as non co-existent.

    Second negation: If the observer universe was born by a creator who set up the necessary for its birth cause and conditions and it was not born solely from a specific combination of causes and conditions unrelated to the desire of the so called creator, we should assume that the universe does not exist in a combination unrelated to the desire of the creator. However this is not tenable because the observer universe exists in a given combination unrelated to the desire of the so called creator, dew to the fact that the existence of the so called creator of the given combination is neither proven nor necessary for the rising of the combination.

    Third negation: If the observer universe was not existent solely because of a given combination of causes and conditions unrelated to the desire of a so called creator, it would not be apprehendable in that given combination alone. However, since the universe is indeed well apprehendable in that combination alone due to solid scientific facts and evidence, the necessity of a creator who supposedly brought up the rising of that combination is dismissed.

    Fourth negation: If the observer universe was created by the so called creator after the rising of the combination from which it was born, we should be forced to assume that the combination and the observer universe are neither simultaneous nor contained in the same spacetime continuum, because in this case the combination would be a part of the observer universe. And, if the observer universe was born by a creator prior to the combination, we should accept that the universe was uncaused by the combination and caused by the desire of the creator alone because the combination itself would be a part of the universe. Therefore, we would be forced to accept that the universe has neither causes nor conditions other than the desire of the so called creator, however both of these beliefs are not tenable.

    These four negations force us to accept that there is no universe that has been created by a so called creator either by means of a combination of his/ her choice or by means of her/ his desire alone. However, since the universe is indeed existent and apprehendable solely in a given combination, it was born solely out of a specific combination of causes and conditions unrelated to the so called creator. Hard to come to this conclusion if you don’t have to cope with Theology and Religion😵
  12. Standard memberkaroly aczel
    The Axe man
    Brisbane,QLD
    Joined
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    14 Sep '13 01:30
    Originally posted by sonhouse
    Learning dogma increases your critical thinking ability? You have to shut down your reasoning powers to accept dogma of any kind.
    Not learning dogma. Reading stuff with an open mind.
  13. Standard memberRJHinds
    The Near Genius
    Fort Gordon
    Joined
    24 Jan '11
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    13644
    14 Sep '13 03:26
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Unlike you Sonhouse is not in the habit of using words
    inappropriately or out of context, or is your post short-
    hand for your education? (As you obviously had to look
    up 'dogma'.)
    I believe sunhouse is the oxymoron of the Spirituality Forum. He has no spirituality at all, but that does not keep him from posting as if he knew all about it.

    The Instructor
  14. Standard memberwoodypusher
    misanthrope
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    22 Jan '13
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    14 Sep '13 04:29
    Originally posted by RJHinds
    I believe sunhouse is the oxymoron of the Spirituality Forum. He has no spirituality at all, but that does not keep him from posting as if he knew all about it.

    The Instructor
    Another oxymoron: RJHinds and 'Instructor'

    Sonhouse knows more about spirituality than RJMindless does about critical thinking, logic, and empathy - subjects RJ clearly knows nothing about.


    Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people.
    ~ Doris Egan
  15. Standard memberwoodypusher
    misanthrope
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    Joined
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    1834
    14 Sep '13 04:37
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    Unlike you Sonhouse is not in the habit of using words
    inappropriately or out of context, or is your post short-
    hand for your education? (As you obviously had to look
    up 'dogma'.)
    RJMindless looked up dogma because he thought it meant a dog who had puppies.
    😏
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