Majoring in Theology

[Joannm]

I’d like to pose a question.

First, I’ll say - be careful where you get your degree. I majored in theology at a historically Catholic university. My heart ached for the dewy-eyed young students who were preparing for careers in youth ministry and liturgy. They knew they were ill-formed in Catholic doctrine and spirituality and they knew they weren’t getting it.

The department gathered us students together to solicit our our thoughts on how to improve the program. I heard the following exchange.

Young man, " I want to be a youth minister. I’m supposed to be leading teens to the Church and I don’t even know how to say the rosary. When are you going to teach us how to be Catholics?

Moderator, “We’re doing theology here. Catholic indoctrination is not appropriate.”

This happened in the late 90’s. Things may be different now. Here’s my question to you posters. Was she right?

Actually I believe she was right. Theology classes on a college or graduate level are not “how to” classes. They deal with academic issues, systematics, scripture, Christology, Church History. They assume you have learned the basics in your parish or from your parents or Religious Ed. I have taken more theology classes as an undergrad and grad student than I can remember but we never learned the “basics.” It was assumed that we knew them. Professors are not there to teach you the rosary, or how to go to confession…they are there to teach theology - faith seeking understanding.

Even in courses that teach catechetics, they focus more on methodology, learning techniques and curriculum development and how to impart knowledge. When I did grad work in Elementary Education we didn’t learn math or science, we learned how to teach it. It was assumed that we knew how to do this stuff. If not, we needed to get remedial work on our own.

Even in the seminary, they don’t teach the guys the basics, it is assumed they know it and if they don’t they better find someone who can help them.

 

[JoanREDirector]

Actually I believe she was right. Theology classes on a college or graduate level are not “how to” classes. They deal with academic issues, systematics, scripture, Christology, Church History. They assume you have learned the basics in your parish or from your parents or Religious Ed. I have taken more theology classes as an undergrad and grad student than I can remember but we never learned the “basics.” It was assumed that we knew them. Professors are not there to teach you the rosary, or how to go to confession…they are there to teach theology - faith seeking understanding.

Even in courses that teach catechetics, they focus more on methodology, learning techniques and curriculum development and how to impart knowledge. When I did grad work in Elementary Education we didn’t learn math or science, we learned how to teach it. It was assumed that we knew how to do this stuff. If not, we needed to get remedial work on our own.

Even in the seminary, they don’t teach the guys the basics, it is assumed they know it and if they don’t they better find someone who can help them.

I agree. She was right.

My point was that even the earnest young theology students who loved the Church were woefully ill-formed and knew it. I was an “odd duck” student - older and got my “basics” (doctrine, spirituality, salvation history) from family, parish church, and Benedictine schools before 1964.

At the very least my formation in these things was very different from theirs. As you can see from my forum name, JoanREDirector, my second career is catechesis and Catholic formation is of professional interest for me. I would very much like hear from you and others on this forum on the following two issues.

#1 Are Catholics today difficient in the “basics” (Catholic doctrine, spirituality, salvation history)? Why or why not? What should be done about it?

#2 Is there not a need for experts in Catholic doctrine, spirituality, history, liturgy …? Where should this training be acquired if not in schools of theology?

 

[Joannm]

Actually I believe she was right. Theology classes on a college or graduate level are not “how to” classes. They deal with academic issues, systematics, scripture, Christology, Church History. They assume you have learned the basics in your parish or from your parents or Religious Ed. I have taken more theology classes as an undergrad and grad student than I can remember but we never learned the “basics.” It was assumed that we knew them. Professors are not there to teach you the rosary, or how to go to confession…they are there to teach theology - faith seeking understanding.

Even in courses that teach catechetics, they focus more on methodology, learning techniques and curriculum development and how to impart knowledge. When I did grad work in Elementary Education we didn’t learn math or science, we learned how to teach it. It was assumed that we knew how to do this stuff. If not, we needed to get remedial work on our own.

Even in the seminary, they don’t teach the guys the basics, it is assumed they know it and if they don’t they better find someone who can help them.

I agree. She was right.

My point was that even the earnest young theology students who loved the Church were woefully ill-formed and knew it. I was an “odd duck” student - older and got my “basics” (doctrine, spirituality, salvation history) from family, parish church, and Benedictine schools before 1964.

At the very least my formation in these things was very different from theirs. As you can see from my forum name, JoanREDirector, my second career is catechesis and Catholic formation is of professional interest for me. I would very much like hear from you and others on this forum on the following two issues.

#1 Are Catholics today difficient in the “basics” (Catholic doctrine, spirituality, salvation history)? Why or why not? What should be done about it?

#2 Is there not a need for experts in Catholic doctrine, spirituality, history, liturgy …? Where should this training be acquired if not in schools of theology?

I also work in the area of religious education, but I deal mostly with adults on parish and diocesan levels. Regarding #1 - Yes Catholics today are deficient in the “basics.” A few years ago we started a young mother’s rosary group and discovered most of them did not know how to pray it. So we taught them. I offer basic theology classes for parishioners. One we started two years ago was Faith Express. It was a basic class that was 40 minutes long and ran when the kids were in CCD. I also write a question and answer column in the bulletin which answers basic questions.
Regarding question #2 - Yes, there is a need for experts in Catholic doctrine, spirituality, etc, but they should have the basics before they enter graduate work. Again, the focus is on academics not the how to’s. In theology if you teach to the lowest denominator, meaning the students that don’t know a thing, then you are going to lose your better students and the whole school is going to suffer. Basic training should occur in the parishes; identify areas where it seems people are lacking the basics and begin there. We have basic and advanced courses through our diocese, but even these don’t get to much into what should have been learned in CCD when they were kids. The only other idea is to open RCIA sessions to parishioners, but I don’t recommend that, but I do know parishes that find that works for them.

I too have been in graduate classes with young people who really didn’t have a clue. Many of them seemed lost in classes and asked the most basic questions. It got so bad that the prof. refused to teach them since it was a grad class and it is assumed they would not need the basics. I don’t know the perfect answer…better CCD classes, more parent and parishioner classes, bulletin articles, one on one, online resources…I just don’t think the basics belong in a grad or even and undergrad theology course unless it is a remedial type of catch up class.

 

[joandarc2008]

This is strictly IMHO. I think in this day and age there are many that want to avoid the contrversial subjects and in doing so they teach a very simple truth - “God is Love.” Then they stop there. Yes, they teach the basics from homilies but they don’t get into the meat and potatoes because of being worried that people will not understand and leave for less "restrictive"Churches. However, if they taught about things such as Apostolic Succession, etc then they may have fewer problems with Catholics leaving for Schismatic Protestant Churches that left Christ’s teachings for their own teachings. This is why IMHO students today are poorly Cathechized.

 

[rusty20]

Take it from a theology/poli sci undergrad major currently doing an MA in theology…

If you do Theology in college, and are not ABSOLUTELY sure you want to do a PhD or work in pastoral ministry, then ONLY do it as a second major or as a minor. Get a degree that will get you a job. You can be theologically minded without “Theology” on your diploma. You can’t get a job in business/engineering/pharmacy/etc without the proper degree.

 

[stjoe3]

Last fall, at age 58, I began a Masters in Pastoral Theology with Ave Maria University’s Institute of Pastoral Theology. It is a part-time, three year program.

I already have a BA in English and an MBA. I have worked as a Technical Writer for 30 years. I long to serve the church as a married lay woman, so I am doing what God is calling me to do by studying. If I am going to serve, I want to be a professional.

I love what I am studying. The more I learn, the more I love God and His church. So my time is not a waste. If nothing else, this will make a great retirement job that will let me do a competent job of teaching adults. I love working with the RCIA and adult faith groups.

I wrote my archbishop about this same issue. What paying jobs are there for laity that want to teach adults? It seems unfair that there is such a need to catechize adults, but we are expected to be volunteers. It is no wonder to me that the adult faith development I see is the blind leading the blind. The church needs competent adult catechists and free classes for on-going conversion and growth in holiness. Without it, how can we have holy families that produce vocations to religious life? How can we counter-act the secularization of Catholics?

Hello, I am currently a student transferring to either a CSU or a private institution to major in English and become a high school teacher. In the long run, I hope to go into Theology for my masters (that’s my plan hopefully according to His will) and eventually become a professor. I am wondering if there is anything wrong with this path? With getting a B.A. in English and later getting a Masters in Theology? To one day becoming a professor. Please respond back when you can. I would be greatly appreciated for your response. Thank you and God Bless!

 

[Joannm]

Hello, I am currently a student transferring to either a CSU or a private institution to major in English and become a high school teacher. In the long run, I hope to go into Theology for my masters (that’s my plan hopefully according to His will) and eventually become a professor. I am wondering if there is anything wrong with this path? With getting a B.A. in English and later getting a Masters in Theology? To one day becoming a professor. Please respond back when you can. I would be greatly appreciated for your response. Thank you and God Bless!

Since as a professor you will be required to publish and publish and publish or, as the saying goes, publish or perish, I think a BA in English will be very helpful.

I have a BS in Art Education and several graduate degrees in Theology and I find that both my art and education background are very helpful, and help my with teaching adults and writing the articles that I publish.