Historical Jesus, Biblical Jesus

[Cavebear]

Here are just some of the careers that theology and religious studies students might pursue...

Only in your personal opinion.  Which is actually nothing more than a guess.

Teachers.
Social workers.
Ethicists.
Non-profit workers.
Counsellors.
Journalists.
Writers.
Historians.

I agree (in very broad terms) that studies or subsequent qualifications in theology might be beneficial to some of
these vocations, but in actuality theology is a totally unnecessary prerequisite for all of them.  It obviously depends
on the prime focus of each person so employed.  In fact, each and every one of those careers could easily performed by
an atheist, with zero negative impact on the recipient or reader.

Obviously, having an advanced education in theology benefits secular teachers, social workers, and counsellors directly...

Nope.  It's certainly not "obvious".  (BTW, that's a typical weasel word in any argument.)  Would you want a practising
Muslim, or a Jehovah's witness, or a Mormon teaching the history of religion at your kid's school?  Would they really
treat the subject impartially, like a secular/atheist teacher would?  Of course not.  Their innate beliefs in the dogma
of their particular religion would most likely colour their delivery of the curriculum—even in subtle ways.  And I know
for a fact here in Australia that any ethicists or bioethicists who happen to be theists most definitely let their religion
skew their opinions—to the degree of absurdity.

Studying theology is an obvious benefit to any historian, as it provides an insight into the comprehension of the origin and implementation of religious beliefs in ancient cultures.

Again, nope.  An anthropologist researching the 60,000-year history of aboriginal Australians has no need whatsoever
to have any knowledge of "modern" Eastern or Western religions.  Our aborigines have never held to any religion;
rather they believe in the "dream time" of their ancestors—which is drawn solely from the forces of nature and the
natural environment.  And with different mobs, their dreamtime interpretations can be totally different—unlike modern
religions that all serve, in the main, one singular god, or one singular set of gods.

Therefore, if anyone on this forum thinks they can argue that theology has no benefits is ... well ... a fucking retard.

Thank you for this offensive comment.  Is that really the best you can do?     Sad, but nonetheless pretty typical
of the paucity of your logic [sic ].

So then people ... a show of hands.  Who among you wants to be the first to identify himself as a fucking retard like Min has done?

And even sadder.  Puerile ad hominems.

Well, you can't stop a theist from posting. And, BTW, I just noticed Free said religious students would make good ethicists. That cracked me up.