No love for Duke Div?

[Phenomenologist]

I'm just browsing everyone's signatures, and it seems like hardly any folks are applying to Duke Div, particularly at the MDiv/MTS level.

Any thoughts as to why this is?

EDIT: Also, there seems like very few applicants to Princeton Seminary, as well. Any thoughts?

Edited February 22, 2011 by Phenomenologist

[Thanks4Downvoting]

I'm just browsing everyone's signatures, and it seems like hardly any folks are applying to Duke Div, particularly at the MDiv/MTS level.

Any thoughts as to why this is?

I'm just too liberal for them.

[Phenomenologist]

I'm just too liberal for them.

Define "liberal" -- it's a relative term. You mean "liberalism" proper? Or "liberal Protestantism," as a kind of correlationist type?

But I'm sympathetic with you -- I visited, and they did have a conservative sensibility about them.

[Phenomenologist]

Come to think of it, there also seems to be very few applicants to Princeton Seminary, as well. Any thoughts on this, too?

[Thanks4Downvoting]

Come to think of it, there also seems to be very few applicants to Princeton Seminary, as well. Any thoughts on this, too?

I'd venture because it isn't actually connected to Princeton proper.

We talk past one another at Duke. They've embraced their Methodist identity with some Baptist Studies programs, but I'm interested in interfaith dialogue, not interdenominational. Also, I don't feel like my Marxian critiques would be received well there, but hey, that could just be the vibe that I got when I visited. Also, there seemed to be a lot of people there for the Blue Devils' basketball...

[radixlecti]

Does anyone know when they announce admissions decisions for Duke MDiv?

[Trin]

Define "liberal" -- it's a relative term. You mean "liberalism" proper? Or "liberal Protestantism," as a kind of correlationist type?

But I'm sympathetic with you -- I visited, and they did have a conservative sensibility about them.

What he said, re: liberal. It's not a good fit for me. I'm an interfaith scholar, and my recent work is on transgender embodiment in pagan ritual. I am SO not a good fit for Duke. As for Princeton, if I were applying, it would be for the ANE program at Princeton, which is where Genizah scholars go. :-)

[Phenomenologist]

radixlecti, I believe February 25th they will let us know.

Trin, that's understandable. I'm interested in ANE studies, but moreso theology. My problem with Princeton Seminary is all the Barthians.

Lib(eration) Theologian, that's interesting, because I'm also very keen on Marxian critiques. Hmm, maybe Duke's more conservative than I thought. I also am interested in Foucault, critical theory, Nietzsche, Derrida, postcolonial/feminist studies, etc. We'll see, I guess .

I really only can go to Duke if I get a good scholarship (along with their hefty internship stipends), so that's what I'm hoping for.

[Thanks4Downvoting]

radixlecti, I believe February 25th they will let us know.

Trin, that's understandable. I'm interested in ANE studies, but moreso theology. My problem with Princeton Seminary is all the Barthians.

Lib(eration) Theologian, that's interesting, because I'm also very keen on Marxian critiques. Hmm, maybe Duke's more conservative than I thought. I also am interested in Foucault, critical theory, Nietzsche, Derrida, postcolonial/feminist studies, etc. We'll see, I guess .

I really only can go to Duke if I get a good scholarship (along with their hefty internship stipends), so that's what I'm hoping for.

Don't get me wrong; you can still do postcolonialist/feminist hermeneutics, Foucault, and Marx at Duke Div. It's just the atmosphere seemed less open those kind of critiques than I would like if I'm going to spend 3 years there.

[sacklunch]

I never applied to Princeton because they didn't/don't(?) offer an MTS/MA/MAR, but only the MDiv. Seems strange they don't offer the purely academic degree.

[ddsdevil]

If you don't like Barth, you might feel a bit uncomfortable at Duke. Barth's recovering of the theological reading of the bible strongly influences what happens at Duke (the theological reading of scripture). Popular folks at Duke are Augustine, Barth, Brevard Childs, Richard Hays, and of course Stanley Hauerwas. While some of the ideas of our professors like Hauerwas, Amy Hall, Willie Jennings, etc. are grounded in Christianity, they may resonate with Marxists. The redistribution of wealth, planned parenting, feminism, racism, etc are discussed, but very much from a Christian lens. You will also have no problem finding someone in the field of post-colonialism.

Interfaith? Keep in mind that Duke is distinctly a Christian seminary with the goal of training Christian leaders. That said, this semester a class was offered entitled "Christians and Muslims reading sacred texts together" or something like that. There is also an Islamic center at Duke. So, while I'll venture to say that 99% of students and faculty are Christian, there are opportunities for interfaith dialogue, but probably not to the extent of a place like Harvard or ANTS.

And yes, we do like our Duke basketball!

[Phenomenologist]

LibTheologian, that makes sense -- three years is a long time.

jdmhotness, I thought that was peculiar about Princeton as well -- annoying.

ddsdevil, that's interesting to hear, thanks for sharing. What year are you in, there?

I used to be extremely into critical biblical scholarship exclusively. I still am sympathetic with it, but studying a lot more philosophy, hermeneutics, and postfoundationalism has made me more keen on theological interpretations of scripture as well. (Which previously was anathema to me!) I think hermeneutics and philosophy of science really dismantles the division between "subjective theology" and "objective biblical studies."

[Phenomenologist]

Does anyone know when they announce admissions decisions for Duke MDiv?

Hmm, now I'm struggling to find this on their website. Anyone else have any information to share?

[radixlecti]

Hmm, now I'm struggling to find this on their website. Anyone else have any information to share?

I haven't been able to find the information anywhere online. We may have to call them or email to find out.

Do you have any idea how they notify people? (as in by phone only, or is it on the website or by mail?)

[Phenomenologist]

I just found this link after a Google search:

http://thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=duke&t=a&pp=50&o=i&p=2

Looks like in 2009, many MDiv applicants found out on Mar 8th. 2010 mostly has ThD feedback listed.

Those MDiv/MTS applicants who found out on Mar 8th often didn't have financial aid information at that time, either.

Also, looks like acceptances were exclusively by phone, whereas waitlist or rejection was by USPS or other means.

I don't know why I had Feb 25th in my head, maybe the math from "January 10th deadline plus six weeks" (I think the website says around 6 weeks to process the application).

[Phenomenologist]

Has anyone heard back on funding from Duke Div yet? It's been a long time and still no word. I was accepted back on 2/25, and they said they would know scholarship allocations "next week" at that time. But it's now been two full weeks.