U.S. Seminaries Consider Radical Changes

[Ahimsa]

Around the country, schools are testing new approaches to theological education. In California, Claremont School of Theology will require that would-be Christian pastors will soon take some courses alongside future rabbis and imams at an institution to be named Claremont Lincoln University.

In Illinois, Meadville Lombard Theological School has reformed its curriculum to help students at the Unitarian Universalist seminary get more hands-on ministry experience early in their educations.

In Catholic seminaries, Aleshire noted, curricula have evolved over the past 20 years to help future priests reflect on issues of identity and “celibacy as a way of life and ministry.”

“You might not find a course with that title,” Aleshire said, “but if you looked at what they did over seven days (in their studies), you’d find a lot of time spent on those issues.”

 

[Scoobyshme]

I know that the Catholic seminaries in the U.S., and elsewhere, were horrible for a long time, teaching heresy, running off faithful young men who would’ve made great priests for the most inane reasons. For example, there was one young seminarian who went to talk to the rector to complain about the rampant homosexual acts going on in the seminary. He was roundly chastised and not invited back the next semester. In other words, he was kicked out, being told that he “lacked social graces.”

Things have been improving slowly, and many of the young men coming out of the seminary are much better formed and educated than some of their predecessors.

 

[Publisher]

I think that most seminaries face difficult futures as our society move toward postmodernity.

New expressions of our Christian faith needs to be explored and embraced for Christianity as a “force” for good to survive.

It’s not “compromise”…it’s seeking to make Christianity relevant to our world and incorportate it into our society…“conservativism” will eventually give way to modernity…In many ways, I see Christianity’s “resurgence” in Third World countries IS the only place Christianity will be a force in the future…unless the People of God work to make their faith relevant and answer modern mans questions…seminaries will change what and how they teach.

 

[manualman]

…
It’s not “compromise”…it’s seeking to make Christianity relevant to our world and incorportate it into our society…“conservativism” will eventually give way to modernity…In many ways, I see Christianity’s “resurgence” in Third World countries IS the only place Christianity will be a force in the future…unless the People of God work to make their faith relevant and answer modern mans questions…seminaries will change what and how they teach.

I quite disagree. Modernity is very quickly transforming our culture into a sewer rat culture of people using and exploiting each other rather than having genuine, mutually beneficial relationships. This is largely due to the utilitarian ethic that takes over by default once the foundation of human dignity, creation in the divine image and likeness, is removed. What the people of God need is to refuse to blend in to the corrupt elements of modern culture and instead stand in shining contrast to it.

What seminaries need to do is get back to teaching actual catholic sexual morality to students and seminarians alike instead of a definition of conscience that after the sophistry is stripped away reduces to “do what you feel like doing.” And it sounds like they HAVE begun to get back to that. The crisis in both the laity and clergy is not too much catholic dogma, it’s not enough!

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I know that the Catholic seminaries in the U.S., and elsewhere, were horrible for a long time, teaching heresy, running off faithful young men who would’ve made great priests for the most inane reasons. For example, there was one young seminarian who went to talk to the rector to complain about the rampant homosexual acts going on in the seminary. He was roundly chastised and not invited back the next semester. In other words, he was kicked out, being told that he “lacked social graces.”

Greetings Scoobyshme,

That sounds like a story that Father Corapi told. And you forgot to tell the rest of it. He ended up going into another profession, I think the military if memory serves me correctly, and then in the end became a priest.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Scoobyshme]

Greetings Scoobyshme,

That sounds like a story that Father Corapi told. And you forgot to tell the rest of it. He ended up going into another profession, I think the military if memory serves me correctly, and then in the end became a priest.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

Anathima Sit,
I think you are correct. Although, maybe the guy became a lawyer? My memory is a little foggy on that part. But I think it was, indeed, Fr. Corapi who told that story.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Anathima Sit,

 I think you are correct.  Although, maybe the guy became a lawyer?  My memory is a little foggy on that part.  But I think it was, indeed, Fr. Corapi who told that story.

Greetings Scoobyshme,

Now you are going to make me listen to Father Corapi materials so I can find that story. It was a good one. Yeah I think he became a lawyer before becoming a priest.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Scoobyshme]

Greetings Scoobyshme,

Now you are going to make me listen to Father Corapi materials so I can find that story. It was a good one. Yeah I think he became a lawyer before becoming a priest.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

I would guess it’s in Fr. Corapi’s Old War/New War series. But I’m only guessing.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I would guess it’s in Fr. Corapi’s Old War/New War series. But I’m only guessing.

Greetings Scoobyshme,

Thanks, now that I recall it might be in his Spiritual Warfare series. I shall have a listen. I have nearly all his stuff. It still helps.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit