Bible College/Seminary: A Waste of Time?

[Neo Deist]

Your wrong, factually so.

If I am wrong that religion is a collection of opinions and theories, prove it.

You can't, of course. Everything about religion that you can research and present is man made, and thus subject to our opinions and theories. Hence why I said it to begin with.

 

[oldbadger]

Religion is not a science that you look at through a microscope or telescope. It is not a computer program that has to be written and updated. It is not something you go to the hospital and have an operation for. You don't take the Bar Exam for it. It is not something you weld, hammer or drill.

Ultimately, it is a collection of opinions and theories that can't be proven one way or another. It is all speculation.

What is the point of seminaries and bible colleges? They are biased to the particular religion/denomination they serve (not my opinion...just a fact). Everything they tell you, you can read for yourself without having to pay tuition fees. What separates many intelligent, independent studying people from these university educated theologians is an expensive piece of paper that says "degree", nothing more.

Are they a waste of time and money?

So you have no idea what students learn at religious education centres, do you?
You wrote:-Everything they tell you, you can read for yourself.
That's what all students at all colleges do!
Undergraduates are 'reading' subjects.
What degrees have you gained, btw.?

On the side............. if you want more involvement in your threads, please place them in open forums like this one. For instance....... I am a deist who cannot partake in Deist-only forums because I have not applied for access, nor been granted it.

 

[ChristineES]

As far as I know, part of the studies of a Bible college or seminary is the teaching of Ancient Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and other ancient languages.

 

[Neo Deist]

So you have no idea what students learn at religious education centres, do you?

Yes, actually...at least for Regent University and Samford University. My best friend (graduate form both) has a MA of Divinity and is working toward his PhD. He is an associate pastor and music minister. As a lifelong friend, I love him like a brother. He is also my greatest "adversary" when it comes to heated religious debates.

You wrote:-Everything they tell you, you can read for yourself.
That's what all students at all colleges do! Undergraduates are 'reading' subjects.

Duh. Again, there is a difference between going to college for a skill (surgery, engineer, computers) and going to learn about theology (a collection of opinions and theories).

What degrees have you gained, btw.?

MA Criminology, BS Psychology (forensic emphasis)
I will be entering law school for my post-LEO career

On the side............. if you want more involvement in your threads, please place them in open forums like this one.

I do not post for involvement. I speak my mind and move on.

 

[oldbadger]

My best friend (graduate form both) has a MA of Divinity and is working toward his PhD. He is an associate pastor and music minister.....

That is very interesting. I remember that the past governor of Maidstone prison was a Christian Minister, no doubt with degrees in Theology etc. It's surprising what a theological education can pre;pare one for.

MA Criminology, BS Psychology (forensic emphasis)
I will be entering law school for my post-LEO career

Thought so...........
Very inexact sciences, those. My local Uni runs joint Criminology + other courses for degrees and advises jkob seekers to review jobs available suited to the other half of their degrees. But Probation Officer, Prison Governor........ BLIMEY! ....... you could have reached this route through Theological college +...

Duh. Again, there is a difference between going to college for a skill (surgery, engineer, computers) and going to learn about theology (a collection of opinions and theories).

Duh......... but you did read yours, didn't you?

I do not post for involvement. I speak my mind and move on.

....you could do that in your back yard or garden.....
Fair enough.............

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yes, actually...at least for Regent University and Samford University. My best friend (graduate form both) has a MA of Divinity and is working toward his PhD. He is an associate pastor and music minister. As a lifelong friend, I love him like a brother. He is also my greatest "adversary" when it comes to heated religious debates.

Have you bothered to ask him about what he studied?

Here's the curriculum for Regent University's MDiv program:

http://www.regent.edu/acad/schdiv/academics/mdiv/

Even just looking at the core courses, there's stuff of value (e.g. languages). Depending on which concentration you pick, you can also have courses in anything from psychology to business.

I think that theology is a waste of time, too, but I still recognize that any decent seminary will, hopefully, prepare a person to manage a small not-for-profit, to communicate effectively to individuals and groups, and to counsel people in distress. That's nothing to sneeze at... and it has little to nothing to do with arbitrary dogma.

 

[outhouse]

If I am wrong that religion is a collection of opinions and theories, prove it.

Your moving goal post, how expected


This below is what you said I have issue with.


"that can't be proven one way or another. It is all speculation"

Many things can be proven, and it factually is not all speculation

 

[Neo Deist]

Thought so...........
Very inexact sciences, those. My local Uni runs joint Criminology + other courses for degrees and advises jkob seekers to review jobs available suited to the other half of their degrees. But Probation Officer, Prison Governor........ BLIMEY! ....... you could have reached this route through Theological college +...

Actually, I am a CSI (lab rat) and what we do is an exact (forensic) science. Use chemical X to look for result Y. Follow steps 1,2,3 to lift a latent print, unless a different type of powder is called for. Cyanoacrylate ester fuming is done at a specific temperature and humidity for a specific amount of time. Don't overexpose on a ninhydrin dip, etc. Basically, we deal with all the major sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, etc.

The other half of my degree is subject to opinion and interpretation, although for criminal profiling there are certain traits that criminals share within their classifications.

 

[oldbadger]

Actually, I am a CSI (lab rat) and what we do is an exact (forensic) science. Use chemical X to look for result Y. Follow steps 1,2,3 to lift a latent print, unless a different type of powder is called for. Cyanoacrylate ester fuming is done at a specific temperature and humidity for a specific amount of time. Don't overexpose on a ninhydrin dip, etc. Basically, we deal with all the major sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, etc.

The other half of my degree is subject to opinion and interpretation, although for criminal profiling there are certain traits that criminals share within their classifications.

I thought it would be a joint-course.
Obviously I was referring to the criminology and psychology subjects as inexact.
I knew of a well known handwriting expert who wrote much of the UK training material in the 80's through a mutual friend who specialised in fingerprint, tyre-track and footprint analysis and identification. He had worked with ninhydrin which is how I gathered some basic info about the difficulties of using it.

I trained commercial, industrial and retail detectives and investigators for the last twenty years of my working life. A very interesting field of work...... or so I thought.

 

[psychoslice]

If you only see the image that they try to make you believe, then yes, its a wast of time.