THEOLOGY AND UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29271, 1 August 1960, Page 13

THEOLOGY AND UNIVERSITY

View Of Canon Richardson

“The proper place for’the study of theology is a university,” said the Rev. Canon A. Richardson, who is professor of theology at the University of Nottingham.

“I am interested in the integrating of all knowledge and in the university where I work I am constantly meeting men from other departments so you can see where my personal interest comes in,” he said.

“Basically Christianity is a historical study. Certain events are

said to have happened and the religion stands or falls on the truth of these,” said Canon Richardson. “It takes many years of training to be able to talk about the truth or falsity of these. “It requires as much research ability and scholarship as any other discipline. You have to learn Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, all about the Dead Sea scrolls and Jewish history. You have to learn the language of theology. That is why it ought to be done in a university." Canon Richardson said: “We all tend to be specialist nowadays; everyone in his own little compartment talking the language which is only understood by others in the same compartment.” Asked about the effect of the challenge to religion given by Lord Russell, Canon Richardson said: “What he says as a mathematician is worth listening to. He is not a theologian and has learned little about the basic disciplines of theology. If he and others like him would get down alongside us and work at the study of theology then he would be worth listening to when he talks about it.”