R.C. Sproul and Whitefield Seminary

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by drewdarnell, Jan 26, 2003.

Loading...
  1. drewdarnell

    drewdarnell Member

    I was recently looking back on my distance learning journey. I have gone from looking at schools like Trinity (Ind.) and Whitefield Seminary. I once told myself, why do I need accredidation? I just need the education. Needless to say, I no longer feel that way.

    So I was going back over schools I had once looked at and once again came to Whitefield Seminary in Lakeland Florida. I can't understand for the life of me, why R.C. Sproul who already has 3 degrees from R.A. schools and already has a name for himself (no matter if you like his theological position) had to go and get a Ph.D. from Whitefield. He already had a Th.D. from Free University of Amsterdam.

    Well anyway I posted a link and section below so you could see that I was not making this up.


    Dr. R. C. Sproul (Colorado Springs Only)
    Dr. R.C. Sproul is president and chairman of Ligonier Ministries in Orlando, Florida, and can be heard around the country on his daily radio program, Renewing Your Mind. He holds degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Free University of Amsterdam, and his Ph.D. Whitefield Theological Seminary (2001). He has authored more than 45 books, including The Holiness of God; Essential Truths of the Christian Faith; Not a Chance; and Willing to Believe. In addition, he teaches at Knox Theological Seminary and is on the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

    http://www.alliancenet.org/conf/pcrt2002.html
     
  2. I think the explanatino is quite simple: Reformed theologians have a pathetic need to have their egos stroked. (This is not a rail against Reformed theology per se, about which I don't give a hoot one way or the other.)

    Take, for example, D. James Kennedy, certainly a leader in the field. Jim tends to list every degree he has ever touched, earned or honorary. He holds his Ph.D. from the highly respected New York University, yet lists his honorary degrees along with his earned degrees.

    Now, as for R.C., no one would doubt his reputation within Reformed theology. Last I heard, however (which is several years ago), he was on the faculty of reformed Theological Seminary's satelite campus in Maitland (Orlando), Florida. Perhaps he alienated himself there (who knows?), just as John Warwick Montgomery alienated himself from many legit American schools (such as TEDS and Simon Greenleaf). Did R.C. need a degree from Whitefield? Of course not. But what the hell (in his mind), why not get one?

    Whitefield may or may not be a degree mill, although it fits several of the NIFI criteria that would raise questions about its credibility. It is likely a sincere effort on the part of some Reformed theologians who don't have a clue about academe, and certainly would not be the first example of a school created by theologians with an ego. (Kennedy founded Knox, Geisler founded Southern Evangelical, etc.) Would I recommend Whitefield? No (although I would recommend, with reservations, Knox or Southern); Whitefield doesn't have the star power that the others have.

    But as to why R.C. would bother with a degree from Whitefield inlight of his previous credential from F.U. Amsterdam, who knows? And, for that matter, who cares? :D
     

Share This Page