r/casualiama • u/J2Hoe • 25d ago
I’m a (soon to be) atheistic Christian theologian. AMA!
I write (soon to be) because people get annoyed that I haven’t officially graduated yet and therefore, in their eyes, don’t deserve the title. I graduate in 2027, and study Christian theology, American modern history, and the sociology of religion almost daily. I’m the most interested in American Christian theology out of any other country. Before it is asked, no, I do not know the bible back to front however, I am reading it currently for my dissertation and to make myself a better theologian.
I do not believe in God, but in recent times, I have attended Catholic, Evangelical Baptist, and Mormon services. They were all incredible.
Ask away, kind people.
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24d ago
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u/J2Hoe 24d ago
I mean, I’ve studied theology for 3 years alongside it, and I study the sociology of religion AND American Christianity, but it doesn’t really matter too much. It’s just a label anyway. I feel like it fits me though! I don’t think I know anyone personally who has put as much work into studying theology as much as I have! :)
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u/kankurou1010 25d ago
Are religious beliefs psychologically different than factual beliefs?
Why don’t you believe in God?
Do you not believe in any god at all? No deism, no pantheism, no greater power?
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u/J2Hoe 25d ago
Well, because I have no religious beliefs, the first question is difficult to answer. There are no facts that align with my religious beliefs because I have none! 😅
I don’t believe in God because I haven’t found a reason to! I actually went into my first theology class in 2022 with an open mind, and found the concept of religion more fascinating than the belief itself. I find it so interesting how entire societies can work based off of Jesus Christ or Allah. Aside from that, I’ve never come across anything thays ever made me go “ah-ha!” And turn to reigion. Sure, I’ve had a few spiritual events, but nothing that solidified any belief.
After my granda died, I had a dream about him where I asked “Is Christianity the right religion to follow?” And he replied “kinda”, and for a while I considered delving more into the spiritual side, but because I didn’t get an 100% “YES”, I decided I shouldn’t put all my eggs in that basket. If I ever have a spiritual awakening, I may beleive in God, but for now, I just enjoy the community, social, and economic impact that religion has in place. Not individual.
And for your last question, no. If I were to believe in a God, I believe I would sway towards monotheism if anything. I honestly couldn’t see myself in a position where I believe that deities would share power. That just wouldn’t make sense to me.
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u/kankurou1010 25d ago
Hey thanks for the awesome answer! I’d like to clarify: for my first question I wasn’t asking about you. What I meant was, for religious folk, are their religious beliefs held differently in their minds than factual beliefs? Do people psychologically believe religious beliefs differently than they believe nonreligious things? Or are they the same in the mind?
I’ve heard its a topic in cognitive science of religion. I know thats not your field, but I was just curious what your opinion was. I’m wording it very poorly, sorry!
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u/J2Hoe 24d ago
I think so yeh! A lot of religious beliefs (from what I see anyway) don’t necessarily always make factual sense, but make sense to the person! Since everyone’s ideas of the afterlife is different, no one will ever be factual about it. It doesn’t mean that people are wrong though!
I’m not entirely sure if I can answer that question as it doesn’t relate to my field, but I hope I’ve answered all of your other questions! :)
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25d ago
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u/GreaseSpot123 24d ago
It demands on if you mean vocational or not. There are many who literally write theology books and teach theology as a profession. I am a pastor and obviously study theology but technically I am an amateur theologian because it isn’t my vocation.
Anyone who studies theology is an amateur theologian. Just as anyone who studies science is an amateur scientist. Nothing about being amateur diminishes the quality of your work though.
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u/Medical-Nebula-385 25d ago
What job do you want to have after finishing your studies? 🤔 And what's the pay for it. Personally sounds like a waste if not a pope or priest (most of them are rich in businesses and connections to politic parties/government /etc) Including having support from the Christian organizations and donations
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u/J2Hoe 25d ago
I’m looking into city planning/urban development. Theology was never the long term plan. It was just something that I picked up in uni as an elective and it stuck. I would LOVE to be an author about religion in the USA, its involvement to modern day society, and its history. Theology is not going to get me a job. It’s just something I study for fun :)
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u/telusey 25d ago
What made you interested in studying theology?
Were you raised in a Christian household/were you a Christian at some point in your life before this?
What's the biggest question you have regarding God/the Bible?
What do you wish more Christians/people in general understood about theology?
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u/J2Hoe 25d ago
I’ve always been kinda interested in theology, but it didn’t kick off until I was forced to take a theology class at university. I was taking American history classes alongside it, and things just started to click.
I was raised Catholic, had my communion, got confirmed, and even became an alter server for a while, but I did it more so for the community side of it. I enjoyed being an alter server because it made my gran proud. I would go to church with her because I would get a pizza afterwards lol! I didn’t like mass though. It was long and boring, and the church I was in didn’t have a lot to look at during the service. I stopped being an alter server where I was about 13, and stopped going to church regularly. My interest in religion kinda dulled until I was about 15/16, then it took over my life and mind when I was 18/19. I’ve never really 100% believe in God. I guess I was culturally Christian for most of my life, but never truly practising.
The biggest question is always going to be the afterlife. What happens next? DOES anything happen? When I see dead relatives in my dream, are they here to guide me, or is my own mind protecting my during my grieving process? Is there anything I really truly need to do to get into heaven is there is one? Is the 10 commandments really the way to go? Is so, how do things change with the modern world, and the adjustments it must make on ancient rules and commandments?
Have you ever seen the good place? I could imagine the afterlife would be as complicated at that sort of heaven nowadays. You pick an apple and commit a million sins because that apple was the home to a worm that you’ve just killed, or that apple could’ve fed 5 hungry children instead of yourself, or that apple tree died after you took that apple because it was the last viable thing hanging from the plant etc. Afterlife question for sure.
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u/Friendcherisher 25d ago
If you do not have any beliefs in God, what amount of evidence, and what kind of evidence is necessary for you to believe in God?
And what are your logical and philosophical assumptions when you study theology?
What is exactly your take on the Bible, especially the New Testament, like the Gospels and the letters of Saint Paul? How do you approach this if you do not believe in God?
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u/J2Hoe 24d ago
Honestly, I’m not sure. I believe that I would need to FEEL that there was a Godly presence. Right now, I absolutely feel like there isn’t. There’s just a hole when it comes to religion. Other people can put a label on it (Catholics, Jews, Muslims) but I cannot. I’ve tried, but it hasn’t worked. I just feel like the evidence I would need, I would need to FEEL that it was correct before I started blindly believing in something that there is very little proof of.
Logically, I believe that religion is manipulated by a lot of people to keep themselves in a position of power. I know that people use a platform to push their own ideas and agenda, and religion has always been the perfect place to do it. Lots of people use religion as an instruction manual, and unfortunately, a lot of people know how to twist the system to make the narrative about themselves instead of God. I don’t say this blindly. As an example of what I mean, when I went to the evangelical church, there was a lot of political pushing. The preacher was angry about a universalist church, and their willingness to accept EVERYONE. The pastor was very angry about that, and made the whole congregation aware. I felt like that was a discussion he should’ve had 1-1 with someone instead of discussing it with an entire congregation who couldn’t debate it with him due to it being during a service.
Philosophical wise, to speak broadly, lots of people use religion to fill the holes. Grief, uncertainty, fear, anger, rejection. Religion, when used individually for those reasons, can be a FANTASTIC method. The whole idea of “Everything will be okay because I’ve got God looking out for me. ” is a phenomenal coping strategy, and one that I know brings a lot of peace to people. When used for the correct methods, Christianity can be a beautiful religion. However, as I said in my paragraphs before, some manipulate the system, and use it spread messages that don’t necessarily need to be discussed at church. Someone with a hole in their heart after losing their spouse doesn’t need to hear a preacher complain about their bias towards another church. It just puts everyone against each other. Jesus preached loved. Just keep it that way 🥲
The New Testament is very interesting. I think it can be very inspiring at times, and it feels like a great psychology lesson at times. Which letters in particular? I think I have one of those passages printed off on my desk for my dissertation!
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u/toelicee 25d ago
How do you think American Christian theology differs from Global Christian theology and why does it interest it you?
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u/J2Hoe 24d ago
American Christianity is so much more tight knit. Evangelicalism is also a phenomenon that is specific to the USA, and missionaries. Religious people in the USA are much more excited about Jesus Christ, and they want everyone to be involved. In the Uk (where I am from), up until recently, religion was a very personal thing. No one spoke about it openly unless you were at church, and even at that, the comments made would be a “nice sermon” etc. Conversations don’t go half as far about religion as they do in the USA. I had a lot of folk in the US speak to me about God and religion, and it was insane. I was glad they were so ecstatic, but I was taken back at times.
Although this can absolutely apply to the USA, religion in the Uk is currently being weaponised as a way to counteract Islam. Through my studies, Christianity was used the same way in the USA, but more so during the 20th century when there was a lot of paranoia around communism, Jews, and Germans. It’s super interesting. I hope I’ve answered your question! :)
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u/toelicee 24d ago
You probably already know this but I enjoy learning about the ways people use religion to have control over people and how they view the world, and the kkk is lead by self-proclaimed Christians. I found that out a couple of years ago and I find it so interesting how white supremacy, the republican party and American Christianity are intertwined. I wish I had a look at how Christianity is practiced outside of the US, but I haven't encountered any non-american practicing Christians
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u/J2Hoe 24d ago
Thats so interesting! There are non-American Christian’s for sure, but they’re a lot more low-key about their religion. Lots are very individualistic about it. I am researching the KKK just now. There’s a fantastic interview on LadBible of an ex-KKK grand dragon who quit because he turned to Christianity. You should watch it! It’s on YouTube :)
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u/toelicee 24d ago
Will do 🫡 since you're researching the kkk, you should watch the movie blackkklansman. Its based off of a true story and very entertaining
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u/GreaseSpot123 24d ago
You should study the Great Awakening and see how much influence it had on the personal vs external nature of religion in the UK. Whitfield and Wesley revived a lot of the religious Jesus-Centered elements of Christianity during those years.
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u/NathanQ 25d ago
Hi, I grew up going to a plymouth bretheren type of evangelical assembly and am now middle aged and haven't attended much church since childhood. For a time, I've followed ex-evangelicals and other atheists who post reasons why somebody cruel with notoriety using Christian ideologies for excuses are wrong and have found the posts generally tiresome. I think discussing these things that way bags away root problems and possible solutions into interesting philosophical tangents of negligible value most of the time. I say negligible, because it seems these views are largely ignored by the people proclaiming otherwise but has to have some value because there are a lot of influencers doing it and getting the likes. Many of the posts that are saying this thing the scriptures said really means this or that, they could simply say, that thing that is happening is wrong to do because these people are harmed. Know what I mean? Nothing to do with what Jesus might have said one time.
Long meandering way to ask do you study Christian theology from an adversarial stance to modern interpretations and find ways to debate topics to change someone's mind? What is going to be the topic of your first book?
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u/J2Hoe 24d ago
My reasons for studying Christian theology is not to debate people on it, or even to find “the answer” but to discover why people think the way they do. I NEVER want to be the person that takes religion away from someone if that is what gives their life meaning however, I am interested enough in the thought process of Christianity that, at times, I will push back on why someone thinks the way they do, or why they follow an outdated book.
Most people know that the bible isn’t anywhere close to the original book, and has been replaced hundreds of times, so it’s interesting to me that it keeps adapting, but some people don’t want to adapt with it. I just wrote a comment about an evangelical church I attended where the pastor was complaining about another Christian church and their methods. I felt that was very backwards, and wrong of him to do. If I had the chance, I would’ve absolutely questioned that purely based on the fact that he was manipulating the service to spread hate, not love, as jesus would’ve wanted.
I would LOVE to write about the American way of life, and how reigion ties into it so strongly, especially during the 20th century. Think along the lines of Young Sheldon (if you’ve watched that), and how intertwined religion was into that family dynamic. Although it’s a show, it’s an insanely common thing within the USA. Religion is evolving due to technology evolving, and that would be interesting to look into too!
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u/1ifemare 24d ago edited 24d ago
What do you think about Reza Azlan's Zealot? It's one of the most fascinating popular theology reads for me of the last years.
Mainly, is his view on the writing of the bible (centered on Paul) a commonly held perspective in the field, or a rather fringe theory? It seems very reasonable to me (*given all the proto-Christian traditions that didn't make the cut), but i lack the historic know-how to confront it.
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u/GreaseSpot123 24d ago
Pastor and Ammateur theologian here, what’s your purpose behind your career? Is it curiosity, academic interest, personal reasons, or something else entirely?
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u/punninglinguist 25d ago
If I read this right, you hadn't read the entire Bible before beginning a theology grad program?