Opinion of "Theology on Tap" events

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Absolutely awful. Bars generally are hot, crowded, noisy environments where you fairly have to shout to make yourself heard even for casual conversations, still more for conversations about serious topics like theology. I've shouted about analogy of being over the dulcet strains of What's the Story Morning Glory twice in my life and that's more than enough times for me. Not only that, holding public gatherings to discuss theology in bars (and in very few other places; I rarely see "Theology at the Espresso Bar" or "Theology with Peanuts and Cracker Jacks" advertised) is alienating both to some of the demographics that need theology the most (the very old, the very young, people who live in areas with poor public services and few public transit options who have to drive themselves home after having a few beers) and to some of the demographics that are disproportionately interested in theology (bookish introvert types, people in recovery, people who simply have conservative/risk-averse personal habits). The general obnoxiousness of the concept is compounded when Catholics are involved because Catholicism has an ingrained culture of high-functioning alcoholism that all too many Catholics either blithely shrug off or actually take perverse pride in because they think it makes us "more fun" than Protestants or something. Well, Theology on Tap isn't "fun", at least not for me, and I wish people would stop inviting me to these things, especially people I don't see often and feel guilty about turning down.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I had never heard of it before but it actually does sound kind of fun from how you're describing it. Going to the bar is something I only do sparingly, because yeah, all the downsides you mention annoy me to, but every now and then, with the right crowd, it's a lot of fun. And I've been able to have some fairly profound discussions while tipsy, so theology might be worth a try too.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Such events are gimmicky, but they aren't really aimed at you Nathan, but to people who enjoy bars.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

Sounds like you need to go to better pubs.

[RI]

I've been to several. The best usually have their own areas of the bar reserved or private rooms set aside so noise is less of an issue. Living in a college town helped too.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I've always enjoyed them.

[Santander]

I've always enjoyed them.

Of course.

[Kingpoleon]

I've always enjoyed them.

I’m shocked that a “hipster Christian” likes the combination of alcohol and Jesus.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Theres a church in Brooklyn that used to hold their evening service in a bar. As in they were still serving drinks during the service and had a bartender serving communion. They only don't anymore because the bar closed. I regret not being able to visit there before that.

[Green Line]

The ones I've been to have just been in the church courtyard with a little bar set up.  It was fun.  Most of the people that go to it are already coupled up though.  They need to gtfo and leave events like these for the singles.

[Santander]

Theres a church in Brooklyn that used to hold their evening service in a bar. As in they were still serving drinks during the service and had a bartender serving communion. They only don't anymore because the bar closed. I regret not being able to visit there before that.

Thank you for the laugh.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I prefer theology alone or in small groups of friends and without alcohol except maybe a little bit (wine or cider or schnapps imo) and probably with bread and cheese and pungent foods.  Everyone says so much sh**t about Jesus...we should call him pungent the way romney is severely.

[TJ in Oregon]

I've usually enjoyed it and similar types of events somewhat. There's a wide variety of styles of event that are all of a similar basic format: Some milling around, followed by speaker on some theological topic, followed by Q&A, followed by socializing. Whether it's in a bar or a church basement doesn't faze me much. Theology on Tap events tend to be chasing a kind of young professional demographic, so it's not really a surprise they'd be unappealing to other demographics. I used to have something of a hangup on things surrounding alcohol, but having lived in Wisconsin for 5.5 years sort of showed me that alcohol is really a socialization aid that makes people feel more comfortable talking to each other than it is anything else. And I've never seen anyone get drunk at Theology on Tap. No doubt there are a lot of Catholics who abuse alcohol, but they don't usually seem to be the types who show up to something like this anyways. As for shouting over Oasis, I'll gladly trade you the horrid country/folk music people seem to inexplicably like in this part of the country.

[Illiniwek]

Seems like you need a beer.

Obvious FF events.