What’s a Theology For?

Part Two: The Vocabulary of Pluralism

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

In Part One, I introduced the idea that God-concepts are important — and not merely to theologians and religion scholars (about which, while theology and religious studies are allied fields, they are not the same. This Religious Studies page explains the matter well.)

In Part Two, I highlight the relevance of understanding theology in a multicultural society, and explain why this can and should matter — to you, and those you care about. And this, even if you consider yourself to be an avowed atheist.

In the Religious Landscape Study, the Pew Research Center found that 63% of Americans were absolutely certain that God exists, and 20%, fairly certain. On the world stage, in a 2019 study, the Pew Research Center surveyed 38,426 citizens in 34 countries, asking them whether God is necessary to morality, and found that the responses were correlated to education, income, a country’s economic development, and age, with individuals and nations of higher income and education, and younger respondents, viewing belief in God as less important overall.

For good or for ill, this “Global God Divide,” holds implications not only for individual belief systems, but extends to communities and geopolitics, both now and well into the future. Although atheism and agnosticism are also increasing in prevalence (in…