The pursuit of knowledge is crucial to humanity. Personally, I would rather gnaw my leg off than take a degree in Business Administration. But a good friend who took it was all crazy about how exciting it was and how much he was learning. I couldn't then, can't now nor will I in future EVER see what he did in it. But HE did. To suggest that Theology is not an academic pursuit worth taking is very short-sighted. It's lots like people who say that a BA isn't worth the paper it's prinrted on. So far from true it's twisted. I think--could be wrong--that Bill D has a degree (or two) with a heavy emphasis on philosophy. The man is a genius, IMO. Are you also going to suggest that philosophy, because it deals with outtathisworld stuff is not a valid field of study? Hell, one of my dearest friends is a remarkably brilliant physicist. When he discusses some things I barely understand on in ten words (so to speak). His study and thinking is outta this world too. Do you then perceive it to be without value or not worthy of public funding?