Bahulāśva: Śrīla Prabhupāda, this is Dr. Stillson Judah.
Prabhupāda: I think I saw you sometimes in Detroit.
Dr. Judah: Yes, we've met before. I interviewed you several years ago. Yes.
Dharmādhyakṣa: And this is Dr. John Pore. He is the chairman of the religion department at the University of Southern California, and he has written a few books called "The Radical Suburb" and "Ethical Choice," and his academic interest is in ethics and religion and culture and education in public policy. And this is Dr. Crossley back here, also from the University of Southern California. He has a doctor of theology, and he is interested in modern theology. He's written many articles on modern theologians...
Prabhupāda: Then why modern theology? (laughter) Is God modern?
Dr. Crossley: No, but one can't do all theologians, one can't do every theologian.
Prabhupāda: No, "theo" means God, is it not?
Dr. Crossley: Yes.
Prabhupāda: And theology is science of God. So what is that science? You are trying to understand God, or you know God; you are going to abide by God's dictation. First of all, two things: you do not know God; you are trying to find out God. I think this is not theology; it is theosophy. Those who are trying to find out God by speculation, they are theosophist. And theologist means one who knows God and abides by his order. Just like we know government and we accept the government's law and abide by it. That is good citizenship. And those who have no government, they are trying to find out some good system of government, and that is another thing. So what is your position? You know God or you are trying to find out God? What is the theologician's position? That is my question.
Dr. Crossley: It's both.
Prabhupāda: No, both cannot be.
Dr. Crossley: Some seek...
Prabhupāda: No, both cannot be. That is illogical. If you know God, there is no use of finding Him out. You know already who is God.