Moody Bible Institute - Comments?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Wanda, Aug 14, 2001.

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  1. Wanda

    Wanda New Member

    I am 49yo, became a Christian 5 years ago, have the opportunity now to study (online)the Bible more thoroughly to grow in my relationship to Christ. I am drawn to Moody Bible Institute which offers DE (also like The Master's College - John MacArthur's school - but it doesn't offer DE). I want a theologically sound school, evangelical (as opposed to charismatic or pentecostal) doctrines. The school and its programs must teach a triune God, the deity of Jesus Christ, the inerrancy of the Scriptures in their original manuscripts, and salvation once and forever by faith in Jesus Christ alone. My ultimate goal is to first earn a Certificate in Bible Studies or similar certificate, to help ground me in the Word, then finish my bachelor's degree (although not necessarily in a "theology" field - perhaps American History or Linguistics). (I'm recently divorced after 20 years of marriage and will need to support myself and believe a degree will help). I would appreciate any comments (I am open to any school that meets my needs, regardless of "name recognition" - as long as it's theologically sound). Thanks so much!

    ------------------
    Wanda
     
  2. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Wanda,

    Moody Bible Institute is a very good school, and many of their programs can be earned via distance learning. You may wish to check out the Baker's Guide website at www.bakersguide.com , for numerous schools and programs of study.

    Best wishes in your academic, as well as spiritual, pursuit.

    Russell
     
  3. Barry

    Barry New Member

    Wanda,
    Moody would be an excellent choice and would definitely meet all the criteria you set forth. Another solid option is Southern Christian University www.southernchristian.edu

    Barry
     
  4. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Moody's an exceptionally good school. As a card-carrying member of the Center for Process Studies, I'm probably not the best person to ask about doctrinal issues--but academically, Moody is top-notch.

    As for the bachelor's issue: The main thing is to be sure the school you're considering is regionally accredited. These three regionally accredited schools offer extremely inexpensive bachelor's programs in a variety of fields entirely off-campus, and accept an unlimited or nearly unlimited amount of transfer credit:

    - Charter Oak State College
    - Excelsior College
    - Thomas Edison State College

    Good luck!


    Cheers,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net
     
  5. Robert

    Robert New Member

    I received a Masters from the Moody Bible Institute Graduate school. I would not hesitate recomending this school to anyone. I was extremely impressed by the professors and their desire to help their students.
    Hope this info is helpful.
     
  6. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member


    Yes, I agree that Moody is a first rate institution. They are both theologically and academically sound. In addition, they are a model of experienced excellence in providing distance education. I have recommended their programs to several different individuals interested in pursuing theological education at a distance. One of these individuals is presently enrolled in a Moody bachelor's program, and has had a very positive experience thusfar.
     
  7. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member


    From what you describe, it sounds as though you might benefit from considering programs at these schools, as well:

    Tennessee Temple University
    The Baptist College of Florida
    Taylor University (Indiana)
    Briarcrest Bible College
    Prairie Bible Institute

    Links to all of these schools, except Taylor, are available at the Baker's Guide site referred to above.
     
  8. levicoff

    levicoff Guest

    Oh, well, since you're not asking for anything too doctrinally specific . . .

    I have decided to come out of retirement for a mere few moments since your quesion is a substantive one - a delight to see that, for a change, on any DE forum these days. I shall now sit in evangelical lotus position (cross-legged with a thumb up my . . . well, you know). But I digress . . .

    Both doctrinally and in terms of quality of courses, Moody is your best choice. The Master's School (an RA school which is no relation to the degree mill run by the Trinity folks) is credible, but Moody has a better reputation historically and in terms of course quality. (They were one of the early leaders in distance learning.)

    (Dicslosure statement required here - I am a former Moody Press author.)

    As to the schools others have mentioned - Southern Christian University is a good school, but very much a part of the Restoration Movement (Churches of Christ) - you wouldn't be happy with them. Tennessee Temple is also excellent, one of the super-Fundie schools along with BJU and Pensacola Christian College, but TT is not regionally accredited. This will limit your future degree and credit-transfer choices. Ditto Briercrest and Prairie - you would be doctrinally comfortable with either, but they also lack regional accreditation since they are in Canada. TT/Briercrest/Prairie all have accreditation by the American Association of Bible Colleges, which is credible, but their credits will not transfer to all RA (regionally accredited) schools. Moody gained their RA status (in addition to AABC) a few years back, so their credits are more universally accepted.

    Also, of all the distance ed courses I have seen, Moody has the best of any school - comprehensive syllabi, multiple textbooks, tapes, the whole ball of wax.

    Final recommendation - do not do the Scofield course. It's outstanding, but it is not a college-level credit course. You can use the Scofield course to challenge credit by portfolio elsewhere, but if you want college credit from Moody, stick with their college courses.

    I shall now take my thumb out of my . . . well, you know.

    Incidentally, since you mentioned a distaste for Charismatic and Pentecostal teachings, here's a freebie . . . Several years ago, a Christian satire magazine then called The Wittenburg Door gave Moody its "Green Weenie Award" for a sign that was actually posted in the dorms at Moody telling people what to do in the event of an emergency. At the time, Moody defined an emergency as fire, theft, or glossalalia. Seriously. Moody has since loosened up and admits Chrismatic students providing they don't tap-dance-in-tongues on campus, but they remain historically non-Pentecostal (although the senior editor at Moody Press a few years back was a Charismatic Episcopalian).
     
  9. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    I wish to express my enthusiastic support for the advice Mr. Levicoff provides here. I agree wholeheartedly that Moody appears to provide your best option (and mention the other schools merely as a means of providing you the opportunity to shop around and explore different potential avenues.)

    However, the things that Mr. Levicoff says with reference to these various schools is not true of Taylor University in Indiana. They are conservatively evangelical, while most certainly not dogmatically fundy. They are regionally accreditted, and enjoy a position of great respect within the evangelical community. They have been offering certificate and associate's programs by DL for many years. Presently, they are in the process of adding numerous bachelor's and master's programs. Though I'm not certain what their tuition fees are presently, historically they've been delightfully inexpensive for an RA institution. I took one course through Taylor, and found their support services for distance learners to be first-rate. Anyhow, Taylor might be worth checking out.
     
  10. levicoff

    levicoff Guest

    Sorry, I did not address Taylor in my response.

    Taylor is formerly Summit Christian College (no relation to Summit University, the Louisiana degree mill) and, before that, was Fort Wayne Bible College.

    I cannot say what the quality of Taylor's courses are these days, but here's an anecdotal recollection . . .

    When I did my B.A. back in the mid-80's, I took a few correspondence courses that I did not end up using toward the degree. Two of them were science courses from Taylor, back in the Fort Wayne Bible College days. Both courses consisted of one textbook plus a syllabus. The syllabus was a mere one page for one of the courses and two pages for the other. There was no indication of support for the courses, nor any indication of what would be on the final exams. In other words, they were the most poorly prepared courses I have seen ever that came from a school that was then AABC accredited.

    At the same time, I signed up for a Greek I course from Moody. That course came with two textbooks, a syllabus that was at least 50 pages long, and a dozen audio cassettes. To this date, I have never seen a course from any school that matched Moody for quality and quantity.

    Philosophical point: To many schools, distance learning is merely the icing on the cake, a cash cow in which they engage siply because every other school seems to be doing it and they want their piece of the pie. Distance learning has always been a part of Moody, and they've been smart enough to sink significant resources into their program to deliver a quality product.

    Again, I would not speculate on Taylor's current courses, but at the time I went for them, they did not hold a candle to Moody's.

    As for doctrinal perspective, both Moody and Taylor came out of the three-year Bible college movement. (Very few of those schools exist today in the same form, having moved to the four-year college model.) By reputation, however, Taylor is more in line with the Christian College Coalition model - evangelical but not quite as Fundy - while Moody has maintained its doctrinal integrity without moving to the far right wing (on the level of BJU, Tennessee Temple, or Pensacola Christian).

    Taylor? Good school intrinsically, but they do not devote near the amount of resources to distance learning as Moody.
     
  11. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    Thank you, sir, for interacting with my comments. I maintain my general agreement with what you are saying. I concur that Moody appears to pose the best option. Yet, I do think that, were one to decide for some reason not to go with Moody, Taylor is worthy of being an option. From what I've learned of recent developments at Taylor, they are seeking to significantly increase the technology and personnel they invest in their DL program.
     
  12. jon porter

    jon porter New Member

    (empahsis added)

    I think Steve's criticism of Taylor is unfair, based as it is on his experience at the former Fort Wayne Bible College (which later became Summit Christian College), as Taylor had nothing to do with Fort Wayne Bible College/Summit Christian College until they took over Summit in 1992. (There's another Summit, this one unaccredited, in Indiana: two or three buildings alongside US31 somewhere between Kokomo and Plymouth, but I digress.)

    Oddly, Taylor began life as Fort Wayne Female College in 1846, merging with the Fort Wayne College of Medicine in 1890 to form Taylor University. They moved to Upland in 1893.


    Jon Porter
    ----------
    who has no connexion with Taylor, except that both are in Indiana
     

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