Theology/Philosophy of Religion versus Scientism

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Someone asked me to provide an opinion of some of the challenges facing theology today (I would include philosophy of religion).

Theology, within the West, can often be defined by some, as not of academic relevance. Frankly, many within the Western World have little understanding in regard to the intricacies of Religious Studies, Bible, Theology and Philosophy of Religion.

Scientism, at least radical scientism, challenges the relevancy of theology and philosophy of religion.

Oxford Science 

Empiricism: 'Denotes a result that is observed by experiment or observation rather than by theory.' (287).

I view this as a legitimate academic approach in reasonable contexts.

Blackburn: Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy

Scientism: A pejorative term for the concept that only the methods of natural science and related categories form the elements for any philosophical or other enquiry. Blackburn (1996: 344). 

From The Concise Oxford Dictionary 

Scientism: 1 a a method or doctrine regarded as characteristic of scientists b the use of practice of this. 2 often derogatory, an excessive belief in or application of scientific method. Oxford (1995: 1236).

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

OXFORD DICTIONARY OF SCIENCE (2010) Oxford, Oxford University Press.

THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY (1995) Della Thompson (ed.), Oxford, Clarendon Press.