(April 1, 2018 at 11:32 am)vulcanlogician Wrote:(April 1, 2018 at 11:07 am)polymath257 Wrote: 2. Does the area being discussed have a way to gain and test knowledge? Can the expert actually know what is claimed? Does the subject area have means to learn about the subject and actually have knowledge? Theology, for example, fails here miserably.
A theologian might be considered an expert of sorts. Just as an English major who has done a great deal of time studying James Joyce, might be able to expertly argue a thesis about Ulysses, a theologian might be considered to have expertise concerning religious texts. Claims about the universe are a different matter entirely, and in that regard, a theologian certainly fails miserably as an expert.
One could also say that theology is not an expertise worth having. I would disagree with that statement as well. Regardless of the truth or falsity of any religious view, religion is nonetheless culturally significant.
And I can agree here. Theologians are certainly experts on historical arguments about deities and their properties, although usually from only one viewpoint.
