Difference between theology and religious studies - Essay Example

The difference between theology and religious studies are concerning the type of faith. Theology deals with types of Christianity, Protestant, Catholicism, and other Christian based faith. Religious studies deal with a wider base of religions. Typically Christian students will study both to educate themselves on other religions and fulfill their own personal faith through a Theology Degree. Religious studies only reaffirm a Christian’s faith by pointing out inconsistencies or diverse beliefs, while theology teaches a Christian more about the Christian faith.

Theology deals with the Christian faith. In order to obtain a Theological Degree or study theology, the student must be of the Christian faith. One author explains:On the conventional account, theology differs from other forms of reflection, including religious studies, for one or both of two reasons: (1) because it has to appeal to special criteria of truth for some if not all of its assertions; and (2) because the theologian has to be a believer who already holds these assertions to be true. (Ogden) People of the Christian faith cannot accept principles of other religions, unless they conform to Christianity.

An example would be a Christian believes Jesus Christ is the Savior and is equal to God the Creator. This means a Christian would not adopt views contrary to this, such the Islamic or Judeo belief in one God. Theology only reaffirms the belief in Jesus Christ. Theology deals with different Christian beliefs. A Protestant, Catholic, or Baptist can all study theology despite their individual differences. Theology is: different from religious studies, as well as from other forms of reflection, even it it were in full compliance with the same standards of reflection, since the sufficient ground of its difference is the question that constitutes it a distinct field of reflection—namely, the reflective question as to the meaning and truth of the Christian religion, or witness of faith. (Ogden) Theology is based on Christianity, no matter the form.

Only Christians believe faithfully in theological studies. Religious studies deal with every other type of religion aside from Christianity. Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and all other forms of religion fall under religious studies. One explanation is: “Religious Studies" is often used as a general heading, covering a multiplicity of possibly conflicting methodological approaches to religion. Some of them still tend to be regarded as alternatives to "Theology". (Leirvick)All the religions, save for Christianity, are taught in religious studies.

Many of the non-Christian religions have religious instruction in their Temples, Mosques, and other institutions instead of teaching their religion in colleges. College courses for these religions are for knowledge, not the believer. Theology is taught at colleges and universities built around the theological study. Religious studies are for knowledge, whereas theology is for the believer in Christianity.Theology is the study of the Christian faith, whereas religious study deal with every other religion.

Theology is taught in mainstream colleges and universities. Religious studies are also taught in mainstream colleges and universities, but the real religious instruction from these religions are taught at their churches. Works CitedLeirvik, Oddbjørn. “Theology, Religious Studies, and Religious Education.” Published in David Chidester, Janet Stonier, Judy Tobler (eds.): Diversity as ethos. Challenges for Interreligious and Intercultural Education. Cape Town: Institute for Comparative Religion in South Africa, University of Cape Town, 1999.

Accessed on 7 June 2009 from http://folk.uio.no/leirvik/tekster/diversity.html Ogden, Schubert M. “Theology and Religious Studies: Their Difference and the Difference It Makes.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 1978. XLVI(1):3-17. Accessed on 7 June 2009 from http://jaar.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/XLVI/1/3