Theology is relevant mainly in a few areas. 1. * Theology has a psychological influence on those who believe and study the subject, sometimes for a lifetime. The rest of us may regret that theologians don't apply their talent and intelligence to anything that clearly exists. The rest of us may also regret that public funding for theology departments at universities doesn't go to something more useful. Public funding could go, for example to research about finding cures for cancer. 2. * Theology has a sociological impact on ordinary Christians. Those ordinary believers don't understand sophisticated theology but assume their priests pastors and other religious leaders understand something real. Therefore when ordinary believers find problems with Christianity they often assume their