Family Radio School of the Bible: any thoughts?

A prisoner asks me about the Associate's degree offered by this school, found at:
www.familyradio.com

They charge no tuition; donations only. As a purely religious school, they are apparently exempt from California licensing.

I wonder if anyone has, or can work up an opinion on them. My guess is that they are sincere, but the credits or degree will be of minimal use. But the price is right.

Thanks.

 

Dear John:

I remembered that "family radio" was associated with Harold Camping. I picked up his book "1994" when I was a freshman in high school and thought it was a crazy idea. He believed that the world was going to end in 1994, or something like that. I never read it. But I distinctly remember reading an article in Christianity Today that was balanced on Camping, giving him a little latitude about being wrong. That was years ago. Apparently he has some more "ideas."

Some people objected to Camping's excessive numerology because, after all, Jesus said "no one will know the day or the hour." Camping's honest reply to Jesus on that was, "well-that doesn't mean we can't know the year and the month." That was his rebuttal.

Anyway, when I realized the teacher was Camping, I just dug up an article on him with google. Here's one possible review:

http://www.christiancourier.com/penpoints/campingsRevelation.htm

I have no idea if this is the better review or not, but if what this article says is true about Camping's teaching, I would advise whoever to consider something much more established before spending time on it.

Chris

 

John,

Yes, they are sincere. I enrolled for a couple of courses that I did not finish. They require multiple choice exams and some essays (nothing really difficult). Courses range from the study of individual books of the bible to Greek & Hebrew language courses.

The courses truly are free. They do not misrepresent the nature of the degree (ie unaccredited and for personal enrichment) and it is the only degree they offer.

Now, as Christopher points out, Harold Camping is eccentric and I disagree with him doctrinally. He figured out that Christ may return in 1994 using some mathmatics that only an engineer (which he is by trade) could understand. He is now into some dispensational variation that says the end of the church age has occurred and folks should come out of the church. He is very opinionated but sincere. He apparently does not accept a salary as chairman of Family Radio (does the job because he believes in what he is doing).

The courses are geared to Reform Theology (his variant).

Bottom line for your prisoner is that the program is free and probably he will find it enriching. Unlikely to be useful anywhere in terms of transfer credit. Warn him to use discernment on some of the courses. The ones I saw are fine but strict Reformed Theology. Others are going to be Campings own often erroneous view point (my opinion). If he has no other options I would say why not. It would pass time.

Here is the web site for Family Radio (see link for School of the Bible).

http://www.familyradio.com

Here is a web site that objects to Harold Campings pronouncements:

http://www.familyradioiswrong.com

North

 

I didn't realize that the courses were entirely free.

In that case, I would agree with North. It doesn't seem to me that there are many "core" problems with the doctrine or program they offer, I think a rec. from North means a lot too since he has more experience with them than I.

Chris