Nations University call

[Thorne]

There are a few seminaries that are welcoming to non-Christians who need an MDIV. I came across a list not too long ago. You should search for the best schools for humanists.

Was not aware of that. Thanks for the heads-up!

[rlw74]

Thorne, you just need to get outside of "Christian" seminaries. Those seminaries endorse candidates who subscribe to their particular denominational ties. It makes sense that they wouldn't want to endorse someone who goes to far outside the mold. For example you could graduate from an SBC seminary not being a dispensationalist but I don't think you could go too far from that standard. I know people who went Ivy league (such as Princeton Theological) and they were allowed to explore outside of what is considered Orthodox Christianity. You just need to find the right school if that's what you want. But just out of curiosity, why an MDiv? If you intend to become clergy you'll still need to find a church/organization that accepts your particular theological bent.

[Ideas]

Rlw, thanks for your reassurance in my other thread, regarding the language difficulty

Although I plan to get off to a slow start, I started a journey thread for the M.T.S. at
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthr...?tid=28262

[jsh1138]

"If Christian universities are so dogmatic that ideas which are Biblical, yet question the current power base, are not tolerated, why waste the time or money?"


I think you'd probably find "math is a lie" wouldn't go over too well in a mathmatics doctoral program too. Or, "there's no such thing as Thomas Jefferson" in an American history PhD

I mean if that's what you think, cool, but its hardly surprising that they're not going to grant you a degree for rejecting the literal basis for the area of study they're granting degrees in.

[quigongene]

I think you'd probably find "math is a lie" wouldn't go over too well in a mathmatics doctoral program too. Or, "there's no such thing as Thomas Jefferson" in an American history PhD

If you can show compelling evidence for either, odds are the school and respective communities will pay attention.

[sanantone]

"If Christian universities are so dogmatic that ideas which are Biblical, yet question the current power base, are not tolerated, why waste the time or money?"


I think you'd probably find "math is a lie" wouldn't go over too well in a mathmatics doctoral program too. Or, "there's no such thing as Thomas Jefferson" in an American history PhD

I mean if that's what you think, cool, but its hardly surprising that they're not going to grant you a degree for rejecting the literal basis for the area of study they're granting degrees in.

Philosophy and religion aren't math and history. There are multiple versions of religion that can't be proven right. As Quigongene said, if you can prove that Thomas Jefferson didn't exist, I'm sure historians would love to see the evidence. But, there is plenty of evidence that he did exist. Proving that one needs to be baptized in water in order to be saved is impossible. It's really a matter of opinion. Religion is a version of philosophy, and philosophical beliefs are designed to be challenged.

[rlw74]

Good argument or not, we are talking about an MDiv program where the school is ordaining you to teach in one of their churches. You can't reject the very basis of the program and still expect them to put a stamp of approval on you. It would be like Immanuel Kant wanting a degree from them even though he rejects the tenets of religion.

Plenty of secular schools will let someone major in religion or philosophy and explore any idea about God they want. But a religious institution will "protect its brand", for lack of a better phrase.

I'm sure you can challenge the not needing to be baptized to be saved. I've already seen it debated in the forums. However, to challenge the nature of God will be much harder. You can try but it will be an uphill battle.

[sanantone]

There are liberal seminaries one can attend and be welcomed. I'm sure they realize that there aren't very many options for those who aren't Christian or Jewish. The military's discriminatory requirements make it nearly impossible to become a chaplain without an MDiv.

[rlw74]

With that said, I haven't really seen anything in the curriculum yet that would get one in trouble if they disagreed. I'm only four classes in though.

[sanantone]

With that said, I haven't really seen anything in the curriculum yet that would get one in trouble if they disagreed. I'm only four classes in though.

Well, Nations is Church of Christ. That's, technically, not a denomination.