What does theology have to do with reality? Serious question; if you take the Dawkins view – that theology is the study of a non-existent being – all theological talk is about nothing. It isn't even nonsense. Then there is a more generous atheist view, which says that theology is whatever theologians do, so part of it is philosophy, and part, perhaps, is history, or textual criticism. Christians, of course will have a third take, or a fourth. Most, in practice, suppose that atheists are half right: theology is airy-fairy stuff that interests theologians, but normal people just get on with worshipping. Theologians themselves, however, have clear views on what they are doing and how it relates to reality. So how can we best understand this discipline?

Monday's response

Tina Beattie: To do theology well is to empower people to resist religion's co-option by the powers of fanaticism and violence

Tuesday's response

Terry Sanderson: In the words of Robert A Heinlein, 'Theology ... is searching in a dark cellar at midnight for a black cat that isn't there'

Thursday's response

Nick Spencer: Theology would be worth studying even if God did not exist for then it would tell us about our deepest selves

Friday's response

Michael McGhee: Whatever else they do, the scriptures, like any other literature, reveal the unconscious ambivalences of their writers