"bible School" Or Bible College, Why?

[Jesususedpeyote]

Hi guys n' gals

 

Something I never really understood. When I was growing up, I always wondered how it was that a preacher or priest got into their position. I guess I just assumed that they just really knew their bible. They read it all day everyday and started memorizing all their favorite verses, making up sermons to go with those verses, practice preaching and just applied at a church. It wasn't until I actually got really INTO christianity at the "non-denominational" church I belonged to, that I found out my youth pastor and his wife both had gone to "bible colleges".

 

(I dont know what the actual name for where would-be preachers go to school is, so I'm just gonna call it bible college )

 

They knew A LOT about the bible, and had their own interpretation of what verses mean, as does everybody. They're versions of interpretation seemed to make more sense.(at the time anyway) They were always coming up with tons and tons of verses out their asses. I guess I just wonder what's the point of going to bible college to become a preacher? It seems to me, that couldn't you just really study the bible all the time, and have the same understanding of the bible that someone that would go to a bible college would? Seems to me, you're spending thousands of dollars for a college degree that just means "yeah I understand what the bible means and can preach now". Or is there some form of "hidden knowledge" so-to-speak that you can only gain from going to the bible colleges?

 

Perhaps its nothing but money spent, and the only real education you get is the degree that just means that you'll get hired over others without one because now you're deemed an "expert" in the field? I don't know, I just can't grasp what bible college would teach that you couldn't already figure out.

 

I'm trying to look it in the same perspective of other fields, where you go to college NOT just for a degree that lets you get hired, but actual KNOWLEDGE and BETTER UNDERSTANDING of the field. Like, Psychology (I know this probably isn't the best example, considering the vast complexity of it) you can't just read a book or two about psychology and become a psychiatrist, you go to higher education, NOT just for the degree, but to FULLY UNDERSTAND the field.

 

Could someone who perhaps has been "Trained" in the field shed some light? Really not trying to come off as ignorant or anything, I just REALLY don't understand why spend all that money for biblical "training"?

[Jesususedpeyote]

just realized this is probably not the best place for this post. Please move it if need be. Thanks

[blackpudd1n]

I'm not totally sure, but I'm going to have a stab. Due to the contradictions in the bible, perhaps it's more about knowing your apologetics than anything else? and so your employers are sure you're aware of current theology and are less likely to support gay marriage?

[ConureDelSol]

You mean Seminary? My dad went to Moody Bible Institute for a few years, but ultimately had to drop out due to financial woes. They teach a lot about apologetics, history (and by history I mean "history"), comparisons of scripture translations, verse memorization, comparative religion, philosophy... They DO teach things outside of what you may learn on your own.

 

That being said, the pastor of the church I current go to does not have ANY Biblical education whatsoever. He is extremely knowledgeable and learned everything on his own. It was only after he founded the church's own Seminary and "School of Urban Ministry" that the school gave him an honorary Doctorate in Divinity. The school is unaccredited, so it really means diddly squat, but he's a good example of someone becoming a professional without going to Seminary to learn everything.

 

Typically, people go to Seminary because getting a degree from there would make them more accepted among the church community and give them a better chance to be hired. My father wasn't allowed to teach anything at our old church because the pastor wouldn't let him without any kind of credentials. At this church, they're just glad to have someone who knows things.

[Zephie]

I attended "Bible College" for three months. The school I went to is in Dallas, TX called Christ for the Nations Institute. When I decided to attend the school it was to get their degree in worship studies. This school is not accredited although it has articulation agreements with other Christian universities. I took classes like NT survey, Evangelism, Discipleship, and seminar. Basically, people go to learn the Bible (apologetics) and get information on how to run churches and the like. While the school is non-denominational, it should be noted that it is conservative, fundamentalist, evangelical. I lasted three months because the b.s. at this place was ridiculous and I constantly got into it with my one of my roommates who thought the perfect indoor temperature was 85 degrees and up all year round. People go for various reasons; sometimes it's to get a job or start a mission while other times it's just to strengthen their faith. The official schools are called seminaries while "Bible colleges" are more casual in terms of education.

[NeverAgainV]

I think it depends on the school of thought that permeates the denomination or non-denomination. for example, I do believe with Catholic priests, you have to go through some type of Catholic seminary.

However, in the Primitive Baptist / Calvinist cult I was a member of, it was looked down on if one had an "education" from seminary. My xpastor was kind of proud & would even brag that he never graduated from seminary.

I think he was at Bob Jones for a year or two. He would brag how all he needed was "gawd" & the holy spirit to lead him through the bible.

He would also bring up how all a man needed was to be "called to preach" as he was....

Think of the hick preachers that scream at others...no education but their own egos, delusions of grandeur & self bible studies.

On another note, I get very pissed off that xpastard asshole "counsels" people & he has NO certification to do that. He continues to damage people because of his ignorance & ego.

[Jesususedpeyote]

Ah, Seminary that's the word I was looking for!

 

I didn't even think about biblical "history" as ConureDelSol mentioned. I think that would actually be kind of interesting to see how they would have to twist shit to make the bible historically relevant. Reminds me of when I was in a christian high school for a few months, and was learning how Christopher Columbus' discovery of America was irrefutable proof of the Lard, for he surely couldn't have found it otherwise!

 

As for the apologetics, that could be a field all in its own. For god and his atrocities against mankind, there are no limits!

[JoeCoastie]

As for the apologetics, that could be a field all in its own. For god and his atrocities against mankind, there are no limits!

In most universities that's known as Creative Writing.

[MrsRoper]

The traditional seminary degree that you need to be a Catholic priest or a pastor at a mainline church is a Master of Divinity or MDiv. This degree actually has a rich history, most of the ivy league schools started as seminaries. Princeton started this way and their Div School has a ginormous endowment. It takes about 3 years to complete and is 90 credit hours that you complete after you get a bachelors degree. You take Greek, Hebrew, Greek & Hebrew Exegesis, Hermenutics, Systematic Theology, Church History, etc.

 

Most of the newish Pentecostal, charismatic, non demoninational pastors don't get this traditional degree. Some go to a Pentecostal undergrad or a non-accredited bible school. For instance, my mom's pastor went to RHEMA bridal training center and his biblical studies skills are more than lacking. Of course he makes up for this by having more of a personality presence and decent communication skills.

 

Zephie- I went to a recruiting event back in the day at CFAN - that place is BONKERS!! We have to chat, lol.

[Eugene39]

I went to Bible College for one year. Several of the guys I went to school with are pastors now. A lot of the reason for Bible college is to learn the "correct" Biblical interpretation according to the Christian denomination in which you seek employment. Or another way of putting it is to learn more fully the brand of Christianity in which you were raised, got saved in, etc, because you believe that God has called you into full time ministry. Some churches I'm familiar with wouldn't necessarily require a diploma from a Bible college, but it would go a long way in proving to the church board that is thinking of hiring the person that the doctrine of said person is in agreement with what they also believe.

 

The classes offered aren't only about the Bible: English, science, math, history, public speaking...etc.

[older]

Of course, you can also go on line and get any degree you want for a fee. You can even become an archbishop or any other title you'd like to have. I did that years ago and am officially ordained as a minister of the Mother Earth Church, with the wallet-size card to prove it (the wall certificate was too much money). I could have been ordained as a bishop but that was more money. And for even more, they would have made me a pope.

[Zephie]

 

 

Zephie- I went to a recruiting event back in the day at CFAN - that place is BONKERS!! We have to chat, lol.

 

Anytime you're ready. I could tell you some crazy shit

[MrsRoper]

I actually had dinner with the founders, I believe. I was so bummed out, I used to tell our admissions rep not to accept anyone from there! He would laugh and tell me if it was up to me no one would get in, ha, ha, ha. However, one of my friends from seminary went there first, and he was very intelligent. Just goes to show you there are smart people everywhere!

[Zephie]

I actually had dinner with the founders, I believe. I was so bummed out, I used to tell our admissions rep not to accept anyone from there! He would laugh and tell me if it was up to me no one would get in, ha, ha, ha. However, one of my friends from seminary went there first, and he was very intelligent. Just goes to show you there are smart people everywhere!

 

Scary huh. I didn't visit the school first and was apalled at the place they were gonna have me stay. I think my mom started to cry when she left. Four girls in a one-bedroom/one bathroom is sick. Not to mention having to hide Harry Potter in my car like it was porn.

[MrsRoper]

Yes, I was also horrified by how delapitated the campus was it looked terrible. I remember the morning worship service at the auditorium, people were just going balls out, I thought it was nuts, even though I guess I was a charismatic myself, lol.

[Zephie]

Yes, I was also horrified by how delapitated the campus was it looked terrible. I remember the morning worship service at the auditorium, people were just going balls out, I thought it was nuts, even though I guess I was a charismatic myself, lol.

 

Oh man I remember thinking the same thing. We had a creation science lecture one day....and they had tapes....it was strange....

[MrsRoper]

Yes, I was also horrified by how delapitated the campus was it looked terrible. I remember the morning worship service at the auditorium, people were just going balls out, I thought it was nuts, even though I guess I was a charismatic myself, lol.

 

Oh man I remember thinking the same thing. We had a creation science lecture one day....and they had tapes....it was strange....

 

We had a young earth "science" guy come and explain Genesis to us (my notes must be hilarious, I must find them). Anyway in the middle of his lecture a guy who thought the earth was created in 6 days just went off in him. And I only thought the 6 day earth guy was weird. It was bizarre, my entire seminary experience.

[stryper]

Though most people have covered it.

 

Mainline churches Methodist, Lutheren, Catholic, etc. generally have a defined schools of divinity. For example, Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, CA is one for Methodists.

 

Nearly all require an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and follow other standard Graduate degree entrance requirements.

 

That said. Some denominations have loopholes. My brother-in-law has his Masters in Divinity from Claremont, without a BA or BS degree because of a loophole. I am not sure if it is a domination loophole or a school loophole.

 

That aside. I do know that my brother-in-law got his Local Pastor Licenses from the Methodist confrenece he lived in and this allowed him to preach at a single church for a few years before he got into Divinity School. So I think the loophole has something to do with that.

 

Many states require that in order to perform marriages and sign the marriage certificate you have to be an ordained minister in a specific church. So there are some legal requirements. Course the sates don't regulate the ordination process.....

[ConureDelSol]

I actually had dinner with the founders, I believe. I was so bummed out, I used to tell our admissions rep not to accept anyone from there! He would laugh and tell me if it was up to me no one would get in, ha, ha, ha. However, one of my friends from seminary went there first, and he was very intelligent. Just goes to show you there are smart people everywhere!

 

Scary huh. I didn't visit the school first and was apalled at the place they were gonna have me stay. I think my mom started to cry when she left. Four girls in a one-bedroom/one bathroom is sick. Not to mention having to hide Harry Potter in my car like it was porn.

 

This is why dad did school online.

[Zephie]

Yes, I was also horrified by how delapitated the campus was it looked terrible. I remember the morning worship service at the auditorium, people were just going balls out, I thought it was nuts, even though I guess I was a charismatic myself, lol.

 

Oh man I remember thinking the same thing. We had a creation science lecture one day....and they had tapes....it was strange....

 

We had a young earth "science" guy come and explain Genesis to us (my notes must be hilarious, I must find them). Anyway in the middle of his lecture a guy who thought the earth was created in 6 days just went off in him. And I only thought the 6 day earth guy was weird. It was bizarre, my entire seminary experience.

 

I always wondered where Cain went to find a wife. How come we never found the garden of eden. Somehow it never occured to me to question the 6 day thing until recently. I always thought well any explanation involving god is possible.

[MrsRoper]

Yes, I was also horrified by how delapitated the campus was it looked terrible. I remember the morning worship service at the auditorium, people were just going balls out, I thought it was nuts, even though I guess I was a charismatic myself, lol.

 

Oh man I remember thinking the same thing. We had a creation science lecture one day....and they had tapes....it was strange....

 

We had a young earth "science" guy come and explain Genesis to us (my notes must be hilarious, I must find them). Anyway in the middle of his lecture a guy who thought the earth was created in 6 days just went off in him. And I only thought the 6 day earth guy was weird. It was bizarre, my entire seminary experience.

 

I always wondered where Cain went to find a wife. How come we never found the garden of eden. Somehow it never occured to me to question the 6 day thing until recently. I always thought well any explanation involving god is possible.

 

Me too, I never really thought about it until that young earth creationist came to give a lecture. He seemed reasonable, so I thought, hey this makes sense. This is what happens when you get bored with Math & Science in high school & become an English Major, you accept stupidity that sounds good.

[Zephie]

Yes, I was also horrified by how delapitated the campus was it looked terrible. I remember the morning worship service at the auditorium, people were just going balls out, I thought it was nuts, even though I guess I was a charismatic myself, lol.

 

Oh man I remember thinking the same thing. We had a creation science lecture one day....and they had tapes....it was strange....

 

We had a young earth "science" guy come and explain Genesis to us (my notes must be hilarious, I must find them). Anyway in the middle of his lecture a guy who thought the earth was created in 6 days just went off in him. And I only thought the 6 day earth guy was weird. It was bizarre, my entire seminary experience.

 

I always wondered where Cain went to find a wife. How come we never found the garden of eden. Somehow it never occured to me to question the 6 day thing until recently. I always thought well any explanation involving god is possible.

 

Me too, I never really thought about it until that young earth creationist came to give a lecture. He seemed reasonable, so I thought, hey this makes sense. This is what happens when you get bored with Math & Science in high school & become an English Major, you accept stupidity that sounds good.

 

Me too! I became a social studies/music/general studies major. Although I dropped an Anthropology class because I couldn't wrap my head around all of the solid evidence they were giving me. I also remember hearing a prof say, "Religion exists to give comfort." I always thought about that when religion was discomforting to me.