To Study Religion or to Practice It ?

Theology Students' Views on the Non-alignment of Education

Authors

• Jonna Ojalammi Itä-Suomen yliopisto
• Kaisa Viinikka
• Pekka Metso

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62442/ta.144892

Abstract

This article explores the views of theology students at the University of Eastern Finland on the ideological and religious non-alignment of theological education and teaching. Research on the non-alignment of Finnish academic theological education is scarce. Particularly this study approaches the issue from the perspective of applied studies for a post at the church characterized by confessional elements. The data consists of 28 open-ended responses from theology students. The data were analyzed using both thematic and content analysis. For the majority, the consideration of the church post in education and applied studies led to a tension in their views on the non-alignment of education. At the same time, the appreciation of the ministry and applied studies made it possible to see them as integrated parts of education. A small part of respondents felt that academic theology should not in principle be religiously and ideologically non-aligned, so there was no tension between the ministry and applied studies. The differences between respondents were explained by different views of the aims of academic theology. The teaching of applied studies was seen as inevitably religiously aligned. Although it was appreciated, the agency of the individual student in matters of non-alignment was represented as limited. The results suggest that there is a need to clarify the relationship between confessional and academic theology and the role of the orientation to the church post in theological education.