How is an expert in medicine with a doctor's degree who you obey more qualified than a religious scholar?

	How is an expert in medicine with a doctor's degree who you obey more qualified than a religious scholar? The both went to school, both have theories and both make mistakes. Doctors often make mistakes and the medical community often has to recall drugs or revise procedures. Asked By: MYTH BUSTER Mission Accomplished - 5/11/2009

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I am probably someone you would describe as a "religious scholar." [However, I think you MEANT to say, "religious studies scholar" or "religion scholar" because your term, "religious scholar" is a description of piety rather than a description of the scholar's field of study. After all, a professor of history who goes to a Catholic Mass every morning could be described as a "religious scholar" because he is a scholar who appears to be very religious to most people.] But I'm not sure that I understand your question. I don't necessarily "obey" my medical doctor. But I certainly consider him very qualified to advise me on medical issues Likewise, I have scholarly colleagues who have extensive training in religious studies topics and would be better qualified to answer questions about such topics. Obviously, someone trained in a field is probably more qualified to advice me on its subjects than someone trained in another field. SO THE FACT THAT YOUR QUESTION HAS A VERY SIMPLE AND OBVIOUS ANSWER SUGGESTS THAT EITHER I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BETWEEN-THE-LINES QUESTION YOU ARE POSING OR YOUR QUESTION FAILS TO ADEQUATELY EXPRESS YOUR INTENDED MEANING. So I hope you will elaborate on your question in further detail in the allotted space. Obviously, all doctors -- whether M.D.'s or Ph.D's or Th.D's-- are fallible. But I don't know if that is an important presupposition to your question. But I do assume that you are sincerely broaching an important topic worthy of discussion in this forum, so please do elaborate further. -------------------------------------------- AS TO OTHER "ANSWERS" [and I use the term lightly] TO YOUR QUESTION: OM: * "Because I heard there was no correlation between medical advances and the general health and life expectancy of the population...." You heard wrong. Assuming that the medical advances actually REACH a given population (and that can be a big if), they have enormous impact on general health and life expectancy. Some critics are gullible enough to believe the health statistics of totalitarian regimes known for selective counting of infant deaths (for example.) The United Nations publishes such statistics without any effort toward confirmation by unbiased third parties. (Cuba is a good example of tainted statistics. Cuba has a reasonably good medical services system -- but only for a select group of privileged people with exceptional governmental connections.) Also, a lot of MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) "dietary supplement consultants" make such undocumented claims as part of a carefully crafted sales pitch coached by their pyramid marketing scheme superiors. (My personal favorites are their many attempts to document various outrageous statements by citing the PHYSICIAN'S DESK REFERENCE, which doesn't even address many of the subjects they attribute to it. My favorite such myth is the claim that sewage treatment plants get clogged with millions of undigested vitamin pills. They don't bother to actually look at the PDR book and find that no such foolishness appears there.) So always consider the source. TEH KITTEH LORD: * "The doctor saves lives while the religious scholar merely brainwashes people." That is an absurd and downright "clueless statement". A "religious scholar" [I assume you meant a "religious studies scholar"] studies religion topics and sacred texts to understand their role in history and human dynamics. If you think that his/her job is "brainwashing people", you've confused such a PhD or ThD with a cult leader. (Indeed, I know a great many prominent scholars in the field who are agnostics or even atheists. Frankly, the closest I've seen actions akin to "brainwashing" by such scholars has been in trying to convince gullible undergrads that religion did not play a major role in various developments in Western culture and government -- but that is another topic beyond this forum's typical interests.) * "If you where dieing who would you rather have by your side?" First, I would wish that I had learned to spell before I pontificated on subjects of which I have little knowledge. Secondly, a large percentage of the earth's population would wish to have BOTH medical and spiritual advisers at their bedside. [They probably wouldn't ask for a "religious scholar" unless they had some nagging question about some obscure Talmudic passage that they missed on their mid-term exam.] But if I were dying, that would mean that the medical doctor's job is largely finished (except for helping with general comfort and pain relief.) So for a great many people who ask for a spiritual adviser, that adviser would most likely be a friend with a similar faith system and shared spiritual values. Your pontification from a position of limited knowledge and bogus stereotyping would be of no interest to them. (Indeed, if you were the one dying, I don't even think that your present opinions and thinking process would be center stage. I say that after being at the bedside of a great many dying people. If your own experiences and observations have taught you otherwise, I'd be most interested in hearing about your counseling experiences with the terminal ill.) THE BITTER TRUTH: {hardly} * "The religious scholar is "....someone that [sic] began his study with an agenda, not a real search for knowledge." Oh, really?! And how many religious studies professors have you met? (And if you are speaking from informed experience, how many university faculties have benefited from your expertise?) And does your bias -- in claiming that such scholars became involved in the field for disingenuous reasons -- apply to ALL types of religion scholars?... or just the theistic ones?....or perhaps just the agnostic and atheistic scholars? I have certainly known some agnostic scholars who appear to have an agenda -- but I would strongly DEFY your claim that such people lack a "real search for knowledge." Indeed, the simplistic bias of your statements tells me that you probably have very little of experiential knowledge of the university environment in particular and the nature of scholar pursuits in general. But I would invite you to amend your answer to the questioner and better demonstrate a mature understanding of the subject that goes beyond a bigoted mantra. WELLTRAVELLEDPROG: * I would be very curious to know the names of the religion scholars you describe (and seem to know so well). And what has been the context of your observation of these scholars such that you could evaluate their motives and agendas? I spent a lifetime in academia and find your conclusions quite different from my own experiences on several university faculties. (And I can think of no reason why you should be hesitant to name names -- and academic institutions, for that matter -- UNLESS you are simply spouting bigoted stereotypes. So I will give you the benefit of the doubt and challenge you TO GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF SUCH SCHOLARS BY NAME AND THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INFORMED OPINION CONCERNING THEM......OR ARE YOU SIMPLY REPEATING THE SAME OLD NONSENSE SPOUTED BY VARIOUS ANTI-RELIGION WEBSITES? ("Inquiring minds want to know!") Answered By: Aonghas Shrugged - 5/11/2009

Additional Answers ()

Religious scholars rely waaaay to much on what FOX news tells them to do Answered By: Neophyte - 5/11/2009

What are you talking about? Answered By: Jiraiya™ - 5/11/2009

Because I heard there was no correlation between medical advances and the general health and life expectancy of the population... </sarcasm> is this a serious question? Answered By: Om - 5/11/2009

An expert in medicine with a doctor's degree can save my life, and many others. I don't go to a religious scholar when I'm sick. Answered By: Sin 'jari - 5/11/2009

The doctor saves lives while the religious scholar merely brainwashes people. If you where dieing who would you rather have by your side? Answered By: Teh Kitteh Lord ►ǝpıs ʞɹɐp◄ - 5/11/2009

Medical doctors generally don't make wild supernatural claims. Instead of reading ancient books, they study reliable information with immediate practical applications. As a former film student, I have it on very good authority that not all college degrees are equal. Answered By: Mr.Samsa - 5/11/2009

The medical doctor has training and his vocation holds him responsible for his acts under that training. If not the profession, then society. The theologian has debated theology to the point where he is considered to be an expert, which is nothing more than a person who has an opinion that may or may not be based in fact. The theologian does not answer to society and many act as if they won't have to answer to God. Answered By: Old Timer Too - 5/11/2009

I listen to religious scholars all the time. Bart Ehrmann is my favorite. He left evangelical Christianity when he advanced far enough in his studies to read some of the original Bible texts and realized how much had been changed. Answered By: lainiebsky - 5/11/2009

Doctors have a self-correction scientific method to help back up their claims. As far as I can tell theologians have zero processes to help with quality control. Answered By: Rev. Iason Ouabache - 5/11/2009

I prefer to go to doctors for my surgeries and theologians for my theology. I prefer the expert of the field that they are in. But perhaps there is relgious scholarly doctor out there who can be a hybrid . . . Answered By: Kitkat-taktiK - 5/11/2009

One knows what he's talking about and the other doesn't. Answered By: ILikeGirls. - 5/11/2009

Easy...doctors are held accountable for, and admit to their mistakes. Answered By: Hannah S - 5/11/2009

Medical experts have anatomy, physiology and diseases to study and learn from. On what, exactly, is a religious expert basing his expertise? What are the tests or observations? How does he improve his hypotheses? Answered By: skepsis - 5/11/2009

"More qualified" for what? The doctor would clearly be more qualified as to medical science...and probably science in general. You wouldn't go to him for philosophical advice... By the same token, the religious scholar is probably not any kind of reliable source for scientific information -- yet many seem to think that they are. They usually are way out of their league, and obviously so. No "authority" should be taken as an absolute source -- the appeal to authority is always a logical fallacy. No matter what either one tells you, you should investigate their claims and see if the evidence backs them up or not -- that's how thinking people decide things. Peace. Answered By: WellTraveledProg - 5/11/2009

I'm sorry, but a book that refers to bats as birds does not even come close to qualifying as a scientific text. I'll take the trained professional, thanks. Answered By: Ms. Athropy - 5/11/2009

People obey a doctor because the advice is not free and it can have immediate health consequences. On the other hand, religious advice is free. People tend to ignore free advice. Answered By: Shams - 5/11/2009

Let's use Christian Science as an example. These people often seek no medical treatment for life-threatening conditions, instead relying on their faith in their god to heal them. This is their choice. Many of us think it is a foolish one. I support their right to do so, as long as they are not forcing this choice on someone else(a child, spouse, ect.) I also support any religious(or non religious) belief that anyone wishes to follow, and expect the same courtesy in return. Most people who have rejected the christian faith have already explored it, and found it not for them. This choice was likely based on reason rather than emotion. Trust me, in America it's hard to go to town, to work, or even watch T.V. without someone preaching at you. I think maybe the key word in your question is OBEY. I obey the laws of the country in which I live, which guarantees my right to religious freedom. On all other subjects I'll do as I please, which is my right as long as within the limits of the law. Answered By: leviathan74666 - 5/11/2009

Because a MD is a student of a Science that is both proven and beneficial to society. The religious scholar is usually a philosopher, if he is true to his nature, or someone that began his study with an agenda, not a real search for knowledge. Either way, it's a fallible subject that is subject to bias. Answered By: The Bitter Truth - 5/11/2009

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