From ‘Queen of the Sciences’ to ‘Pawn of the Sciences’
Theology was known as the ‘Queen of the Sciences’. The Roman Catholic Church transformed the cathedral and monastic schools into universities, starting with Bologna, Italy in 1088.
It sought the highest form of learning, to provide an intellectual and spiritual foundation for all other knowledge. Secular humanism now declares humans can figure out life for themselves, reducing theology, as of little value, to become the ‘Pawn of the Sciences.’ Theos Think Tank warns of trouble ahead for RE in schools because Theology and Religious Studies University Departments have roughly halved in the last 20 years.
While schools recognize the need to bolster Faith Literacy among pupils, future qualified RE teachers are diminishing, just when schools need the skills of theological, philosophical and ethical enquiry, to wrestle with the BIG QUESTIONS facing us e.g.
- What does it mean to be human?
- How does AI impact our understanding of who we are?
- What is a good life?
- How do we live it well together?
- What of relationships between religions?
We are very grateful for the young people with connections to St Stephen’s, who have studied Theology in preparation for priesthood, research or the RE classroom.
Society and the Church must safeguard our Universities’ Theological and Religious Studies Departments to provide qualified Religious Education teachers, to promote the understanding of religious beliefs and practices, while avoiding dangerous, religious misunderstanding. Fostering schoolchildren’s increased knowledge and appreciation of diverse cultures and religions, also facilitates social cohesion and greater understanding of our complicated modern world.
Heather Savini: with reference to Chine McDonald, Director of Theos
23 August 2026
