Theology

[Atheist]

Is there any sense in which theology could be considered a science? I mean, I know it uses the suffix 'ology' but is that a valid claim for it to be considered a branch of knowledge, any more than astrology, scientology etc, or is it simply an attempt to use 'ology' to give it respectability? There is christian theology, muslim theology, Jewish theology, but the real sciences don't attach themselves to religion.

[alavahalf]

It's your choice to buy a paper .. why complain about it's contents when you are well aware of what it may include twaddle ?

[Atheist]

Paigntonian. Sorry if you feel picked on. But I do have strong feelings about con-artists. What do you feel about people making money from the gullible by exploiting their gullibility? I'm not accusing you of making money like that, but I think there are people who do.

[Atheist]

Why should religions be exempted from tax? Why should their claims not be subjected to scrutiny?

[douglas9401]

"What do you feel about people making money from the gullible by exploiting their gullibility?"

Advertology?

[nailit]

///But I do have strong feelings about con-artists. What do you feel about people making money from the gullible by exploiting their gullibility?//

Thats assuming that all psychics, astrologers etc are con artists.
A lot of psychics, astrologers etc really DO think that they have these powers.

[Atheist]

Dougla, yes but there are advertising standards rules.

[Atheist]

Nailit, just because people think they are right doesn't mean that they should be allowed to peddle unsubstantiated guff. Neo-nazis might think they are right to advocate attacks on people, but I don't think they should be allowed to do so.

[douglas9401]

Please see 18:54, jackthehat's post

[Karolina82]

I hope no one is suggesting the likes of Mystic Meg are con artists.
Everyone is assigned a star sign according to their birth date. However many people will find that their real (astronomical) star sign is many weeks "out" from their astrological star sign.

[Atheist]

Douglas 19:09. Yes I have seen it.

[woofgang]

if you are wanting to launch an attack on religion, I'd say you are on pretty shakey ground basing it on the fact that theology is called theology.

[Atheist]

Karoline, You may believe what you like, so long as you don't try to make money out of me. The same applies to Paigntonian. I'm not attacking beliefs, just charlatans and snake-oil salesmen..

[jno]

astrology is slightly hampered by the fact that the constellations don't exist. However, psychos do exist, so it's okay to study them.

[Atheist]

Woof, I don't want to attack religion per se, but I do object to religious beliefs having more weight than rationally supported theories, to such an extent that they can claim tax exemption and exemption from secular laws designed to protect the public from unsupported claims.

[douglas9401]

" I'm not attacking beliefs,"

That's exactly what you're doing, in a scattergun fashion too.

[nailit]

//Nailit, just because people think they are right doesn't mean that they should be allowed to peddle unsubstantiated guff//

But that isnt what you said. You actually said
//But I do have strong feelings about con-artists//

Theres a world of difference between someone believing something and a con-artist.

[Atheist]

Nailit, you're right.

[ToraToraTora]

nailit: "Thats assuming that all psychics, astrologers etc are con artists. A lot of psychics, astrologers etc really DO think that they have these powers. " - the vast majority are con artists, charlatans, a cold reading cross between a detective and a conjurer. Those that think they actually do have some sort of "power" are sadly deluded.

[nailit]

TTT, as someone who has spent DECADES looking into this stuff, I can catagoricaly state that you are wrong.
By far, the majority of the practitioners of astrology, mediumship etc BELIEVE what they do.
They believe as much as the practitioners of religion do.
Of course you get the con-artists (The Dorothy Stokes types)
But by far the majority actually believe in what they do.
Still sad though!!

[Atheist]

Nailit, I still don't think they should get away with breaking the laws that the rest of us live by.