Can a theological educational background be too homogeneous?

[crackthesky]

I recently realized that although I am not Catholic, every school I've attended has identified as Catholic. Thus, I have a BA and MA in theology from a Catholic university, and the PhD offer I intend to accept is also from a Catholic school. The graduate program I'm currently attending is also at a Catholic university. 

 

I seem to gravitate towards Catholic liberal arts education but I'm wondering if this will be a detriment when I go out into the job market. (I hope to one day be a professor at a university.) 

 

Does anyone else have a fairly homogenous theological background? The other school I've considered is more explicitly ecumenical, but my top choice is professedly Catholic (even though it certainly does have a commitment to ecumenical dialogue.)

 

I don't want to give up my top choice school for this reason, but it's also something I've been thinking increasingly about. 

 

Thoughts?

[Guest]

I would be less concerned about homogenization since you attended schools committed to ecumenical dialogue. Roman Catholicism is so diverse and committed to exploring the richness of theology and philosophy that I would not doubt that anyone would look at this as problematic in the same sense as if you were to, say, only have gone to conservative Evangelical schools. It just doesn't have the same stereotype attached to it, in my opinion.

 

It seems to me that it works like this when deciding where to go for a PhD:

- If you attend a non-ecumenical denomination's school, your job opportunities will be limited to their network of schools (Southern Baptist schools come to mind)

- If you attend a multi/inter-denominational Evangelical institution, the door will be open for most/all Evangelical schools.

- If you attend an ecumenical mainline or Catholic school, your primary job opportunities will be within those circles and departments of religion, but you could likewise try and enter the Evangelical world if you wished and if they are open.

 

In other words, I think you will have the biggest opportunities of any regardless of whether you attend a multi-denominational institution or one that is Catholic but committed to ecumenical dialogue. Not to say there aren't plenty of exceptions to this suggestion, but this just seems to me to be how it works in general.

[crackthesky]

I would be less concerned about homogenization since you attended schools committed to ecumenical dialogue. Roman Catholicism is so diverse and committed to exploring the richness of theology and philosophy that I would not doubt that anyone would look at this as problematic in the same sense as if you were to, say, only have gone to conservative Evangelical schools. It just doesn't have the same stereotype attached to it, in my opinion.

 

It seems to me that it works like this when deciding where to go for a PhD:

- If you attend a non-ecumenical denomination's school, your job opportunities will be limited to their network of schools (Southern Baptist schools come to mind)

- If you attend a multi/inter-denominational Evangelical institution, the door will be open for most/all Evangelical schools.

- If you attend an ecumenical mainline or Catholic school, your primary job opportunities will be within those circles and departments of religion, but you could likewise try and enter the Evangelical world if you wished and if they are open.

 

In other words, I think you will have the biggest opportunities of any regardless of whether you attend a multi-denominational institution or one that is Catholic but committed to ecumenical dialogue. Not to say there aren't plenty of exceptions to this suggestion, but this just seems to me to be how it works in general.

 

Thank you so much. This actually makes me feel much better and it also makes a ton of sense.

[sacklunch]

I was told long ago in UG that, generally, Protestant schools are less likely to hire Catholics (or those with degrees from Catholic schools), while Catholic schools are more likely to hire Protestants. Having attended two flagship universities of both sides, I can say this seems to be the case. Though, attending one of those 'top' universities, regardless of affiliation, will likely not limit your job prospects. The only exception may be some of the more conservative schools (the above post mentioned Southern Baptists). But chances are if you are attending a more mainline uni you are not planning on ever teaching at such an institution. 

 

cheers

[crackthesky]

I was told long ago in UG that, generally, Protestant schools are less likely to hire Catholics (or those with degrees from Catholic schools), while Catholic schools are more likely to hire Protestants. Having attended two flagship universities of both sides, I can say this seems to be the case. Though, attending one of those 'top' universities, regardless of affiliation, will likely not limit your job prospects. The only exception may be some of the more conservative schools (the above post mentioned Southern Baptists). But chances are if you are attending a more mainline uni you are not planning on ever teaching at such an institution. 

 

cheers

 

Thanks for the advice! The university is definitely a mainline one. I feel a little better about this. Maybe it isn't as unusual as I thought it might be.