Teddy Bear

A friend went off to seminary and came out with a MDiv and his faith was very much intact. He ascribes this to the fact that classes were fast-paced. You had to read the prescribed text and readings and there wasn't much time for anything else. He kept a list of the books he'd like to read once he graduated. Research papers generally came after the prescribed reading and so any research was filtered through the material already covered which was quite orthodox. So there was little time to read heretical theologians' musings that Paul and Timothy were homosexual lovers etc. Maybe they were, he would read that kind of thing after he graduated... lol

Then a related question arises about the utility of accreditation of seminaries/divinity schools. Some seminaries tend to be echo chambers simply reinforcing (especially the conservative ones) the students already held beliefs without concern for what others are writing. Others subject their curriculum to such critical analysis that they can cause what xypathos says is "profound trauma" that can lead to "killing one's soul". Yet both types of institutions are accredited (often by the same regulator)! If outcomes are so vastly different then accreditation means simply a useless expense passed on in student tuition fees.

Thank you for replying. I don't know whether to feel challenged by your answer or afraid! I "don't want to lose my Jesus". If context matters (and I'm sure it does) is it more pronounced in divinity schools [exit with no faith] or confessional schools [exit with an unquestioned faith where growth hasn't happened]? Maybe that's what you mean by the "tension between seminary/divinity schools and religious studies". I've been talking to student advisors at a theological seminary in my state about their MDiv program. Choosing a school is one I never expected to be so difficult. The program is well structured (90 hrs including languages and fieldwork), has a staff of pastor-theologians (they are accountable for what they research), the school is close enough to home such that I won't have to uproot my family (and put anyone through job searches and school changes just before the country goes into recession), they're offering me a full scholarship. And I want to study at a school that believes in the three I's of scripture (infallible, inerrant, inspired), and most times that comes in a "conservative" packing. BUT there are things about their doctrinal statement that scare me: a belief in total depravity, dispensationalism, and pretrib. I understand these are increasingly common in nondenom.churches but as someone coming from a classical protestant background (Episcopalian), who is, after much soul-searching, at home in my denomination, I'm afraid that the "profound trauma" it will leave me with, will affect my ability to be effective in my denomination. Of course, the school says it has many denominations enrolled and that as long as I can justify my positions, they will be respected. So the Pros: close to home; well-structured curriculum; biblical inerrancy; professors who both research and pastor themselves; and scholarship funding The Cons: concerns over imbibing doctrine I don't want. Maybe it's not possible to find the perfect seminary. Perhaps trade-offs have to be made. Maybe exposure to another world view will help solidify my own? - IDK???

We are continually told that people who go to seminary end up losing their faith. Or that after being at a particular seminary the newly minted MDiv no longer feels confident enough to sign their home denominations statement of faith. Are these kinds of comments valid? Are there just people who are psychologically more easily influenced/less critical of what they are studying so much so that they lose belief in the particular denomination they wanted to serve upon graduating? If these stories are indeed true, what advice can you offer to someone considering the seminary?

I know a Catholic Priest who got his 3rd doctorate at 55 and is very happy with parish pastoral work. He had a good 20 years to go before retirement age. He was a late vocation to the Priesthood and already had a secular Ph.D. before going to seminary. His diocese made him pay 50% of the cost of seminary (free for the youngsters but he had savings and investments from his first career and was going to be living a life of poverty after all). He was a 4.0 student there and well-liked by faculty that saw him successively get 2 Ph.D. full scholarships after his MDiv. He worked in the ministry part time while he completed his doctorates. He says he wouldn't have done it if he didn't have (1) guaranteed employment and (2) the full scholarships.

"Not the Priest type" so how on earth did you manage to finish a MDiv? Without a long term goal, how did you stay committed to your studies? If you're young and in good shape a position as a chaplain in the military could be an answer. Start your own ministry: Apologetics is a growing market. [My University will this year offer the concentration "Christian Apologetics" in the ThD program]. Pick a specialist area and then begin publicly speaking and debating others who disagree. A YT channel is a great way to start. This will naturally lead to book tours etc. Don't forget Christian charities and advocacy organisations that might interest you.

One thing you could do is start working part time in a ministry after you receive your MDiv and are in your PhD program. This might help you transition into a full-time position easier when you do graduate. Beware though I've seen people in churches become very antagonistic toward PhDs. You're congregants with graduate degrees will often try to undermine you and colleagues become green-eyed.

I have a disability and have first hand knowledge of this. I applied to a major public university last year and was refused a reasonable accommodation until I took the matter up to further authorities. This made me look as particularly litigious and so when it came around to the final interviews, the response was a "regret". I went back to the school to see if they could provide some sort of feedback to help with further applications (though I knew what had happened), the Dean of Admissions promised to get back to me soon with feedback. Still waiting months later. The schools do discriminate and it's virtually impossible to prove.

First, thank you for taking the time to reply. Your response is helpful. I do think I would be able to be a megachurch pastor (though I've received many international awards from Toastmasters for my public speaking abilities - and I look good in skinny jeans ? ) but I have ethical issues around the entire "industry". May I ask why you chose a MTS and not a MDiv. Given the poor jobs market I think that a MDiv is more flexible as it opens doors to both academia and ministry, while the MTS may not be so well received in the latter field. What do you think the major differences are for those attending an evangelical seminary and those going to a secular Unuversity (such as BU) for their theology degree? How conscious are you of your GPA? Do you live a very balanced life or have you placed things on hold due to GPA concerns?

I'm talking with a POI at a TT Seminary and the question of cost arose. If I get into this seminary they have a 65% tuition-only scholarship program. I am set on pastoral ministry rather than a career in academia. Given that I'm not too sure if I'll even get a job after graduation, I'm not sure about making this financial commitment. What % of MDiv students receive full scholarships - is this even a thing? Those in an MDiv program please share your experience about how you managed to justify the costs, knowing that career prospects are limited. [This is only my second post on this forum so apologies upfront if it is posted in the wrong section etc.].

A TT Canadian school has, this academic year, changed MTS requirements. It offers students the opportunity to graduate with 36 credits or to add another 6 by taking a thesis (better prepare them for Ph.D.programs) and then graduate. Would you choose to remain in school for another semester to write a thesis?

I'm a "mature student" and have been out of the higher ed. environment for a while. I've recently begun a grad school program at an ivy league and been told that I must maintain a 3.0 GPA in each class to continue with my program or have to repeat the course, or eventually be deregistered. At orientation the dean explained that a 3.0 is just that and a 2.99 wouldn't be rounded up. (Is there really a difference in knowledge /competence at the 0.01 level?) Most courses are made of two MCQ quizzes, a term paper and a final. The papers are graded according to a "strict rubric" (supposedly to "avoid grade inflation", the school also does not allow student evaluations for the same reason). Looking at the course in full, the safest way is to aim for a 4.0 in each assessment just so that if I have a bad day in one particular assessment I don't fall below 3.0 for the course. I think it's much easier to score below a 4 in mcqs than the term papers because papers allow for a degree of subjectivity. Take for example a mcq of 20 questions with 17 correct responses, which given that distractors are so often close to the key (often by a word or two), can easily happen, would immediately make the course "risky". A 2.9 on a MCQ and then a bad day on the final (and this could also easily happen to a mature student who has significant responsibilities outside the classroom) and a student could easily find themselves flunking a course. This is leading to a high degree of anxiety before an assessment because I know the entire course could be jeopardised in 40 minutes. And this anxiety no doubts affect my performance. Do you have any exam preparation suggestions for me?