Atheist, Humanist, and Agnostic-Friendly Programs

Interfaith programs and Unitarian seminaries tend to be friendly to non-believers, but there are some Christian MDiv programs that also welcome them.

https://www.unitedseminary.edu/academics/m-a-l/mal-humanist/

https://www.unitedseminary.edu/academics/m-div/mdiv-humanist/

https://www.gratz.edu/academics/program/interfaith-leadership

(Not currently enrolling students.)
https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/programs/online-masters-degree-peace-and-social-justice/

https://www.unitedseminary.edu/academics/m-div/mdiv-interreligious-chaplaincy/

https://www.hartfordinternational.edu/academic-programs/degree-programs/ma-interreligious-studies

 

Not sure why non-believers would want these degrees with religious titles. I'm one - and I certainly wouldn't. The knowledge might be useful in countering arguments of believers - if one likes arguments. I don't like arguing - I just DO ... or rather, DON'T, as a non-believer.

I had to spend SOME time studying required stuff I didn't really like, in college - certainly don't want to do that again, with religion. But-- to each, their own.

PS. OK, I know that there's no proof of the nonexistence of G*d. You have to take it on faith.

 

Some of them are interested in becoming humanist chaplains or Unitarian Universalist clergy.

 

Thanks. That makes sense. "Non-religious" does not necessarily mean "Non-Spiritual."

 

My friend and one of our most important leaders in the adult pre-health student community when I was on campus at Harvard Extension, Sylvia, was an atheist who as an atheist had chosen to go to Harvard Divinity School where she graduated with a master of theological studies. She had a friendly interest and engagement with every religion. Her major research was on ancient religious texts of India. Most of her classmates at HDS were MDiv students, typically pursuing ministerial roles.

At HES Sylvia was aiming for med school, but I asked her once what her likeliest fallback plan was. Probably complete clinical pastoral education, she explained, and seek a role like hospital chaplain.

She would have been exceptional at it! But she's a resident physician in emergency medicine now.

 

"Our master’s degree in spirituality [a Master of Arts in Spirituality] equips you to serve your community as a chaplain, minister, lay spiritual leader or counselor... Interfaith and interdisciplinary. While Merrimack [College] is a Catholic institution rooted in Augustinian theology, the spirituality master’s degree welcomes students from all faiths and spiritual traditions. In addition to religious studies, electives include subject matter from mental health, social justice, education, healing arts and other disciplines.
https://www.merrimack.edu/academics/liberal_arts/graduate/spirituality/
similarly https://www.merrimack.edu/academics/liberal_arts/graduate/online-certificate-in-spirituality-and-work/

 

St. Stephen's University in New Brunswick, Canada, provincially chartered as a private Christian university and certainly legitimate, writes in its Faith Identity statement that they "aspire to challenge colonizing and exclusionary bounds of Christendom and set an open table where all are welcome," with "(1) faculty and student freedom from signing or holding to any dogmatic prescriptions and (2) faculty and student freedom to bring their own faith practices into the classroom." They "tend to attract students and lecturers from a great range of faith perspectives."

St. Stephen's academic programs, with all degrees low-residency and certificates either online or low-residency, are the MA, MMin, and grad cert in theology & culture, MA and MTS in peace & justice, and undergrad and grad certs in religion, peace & justice and in reconciliation studies.

 

The online MA in Theology and low-res DTh in Applied Theology from Saint Leo University, a Benedictine Roman Catholic school, "welcome all curious thinkers, regardless of faith background."

 

Unitarian Universalist. Multiple online programs.

https://www.sksm.edu/academics/educational-design/

 

And the other Unitarian Universalist seminary, Meadville-Lombard, is low-res with MDiv, MAR, DMin, and certificate programs.

 

Interreligious
https://www.gtu.edu/interreligious-studies-certificate

Progressive. Open to UU.
https://www.psr.edu/academics/degrees-and-graduate-certificates/master-of-theological-studies/

Progressive
https://emu.edu/seminary/degree-programs/mar

Interdenominational. Accepts UU.
https://utsnyc.edu/academics/degrees/master-of-arts-in-social-justice/

Open to UU.
https://ptstulsa.edu/prospective-students/phillips-online/

 

Speaking as an Atheist, I can't imagine an Atheist who would want ANY of these programs. I don't like religion, although I have nothing against MOST of those of any faith who do like religion and like many of them - but there are limits....I don't like zealots of any stripe. I can't imagine ever wanting to:

(1) go to any faith's religious services (funerals weddings etc excluded)
(2) preach Atheism or any other religious or anti-religious doctrine
(3) convert people to Atheism.
(4) study religion formally or earn a degree in it.
(5) meet regularly. Recovering alcoholics have to do that - but not me.

What's wrong here? Am I a "bad" or "lip-service" Atheist? I thought I was a hard-liner...

 

Harvard's atheist chaplain.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/us/harvard-chaplain-greg-epstein.html

 

Progressive. Serves many denominations and the UU religion.

https://utsnyc.edu/academics/degrees/master-of-arts-in-social-justice/

Progressive and interreligious

https://www.bu.edu/sth/academics/degree-programs/master-of-arts-in-religion-and-public-leadership-marpl/

 

Chicago Theological Seminary describes itself as "Historically Protestant and now multifaith." CTS MA, STM, MDiv, DMin, and certificate programs can all be completed online. Alumni include Vanessa Gomez Brake, MDiv, an atheist and humanist chaplain.

 

Speaking as an Atheist, I can't imagine an Atheist who would want ANY of these programs. I don't like religion, although I have nothing against MOST of those of any faith who do like religion and like many of them - but there are limits....I don't like zealots of any stripe. I can't imagine ever wanting to:

(1) go to any faith's religious services (funerals weddings etc excluded)
(2) preach Atheism or any other religious or anti-religious doctrine
(3) convert people to Atheism.
(4) study religion formally or earn a degree in it.
(5) meet regularly. Recovering alcoholics have to do that - but not me.

What's wrong here? Am I a "bad" or "lip-service" Atheist? I thought I was a hard-liner...

 

Atheism is often misunderstood, even by atheists. Atheist just means lacks a belief in a god or higher power. Atheists can still be superstitious, spiritual, and believe in pseudoscience, such as astrology. Freethinker and skeptic are better terms for those who reject all supernatural beliefs because they are not based on science.

 

Inspirational, and laudable, truly. But Sylvia is one person. An exceptional person, to be certain. I am another person, of a completely different type. I do NOT have a friendly interest and engagement with G*d(?) or any of the religions that worship Him I have a friendly interest in people but none in their religion, unless they get up my nose with it. So -- I repeat. Am I doing something wrong, as an Atheist, by not wanting these programs? It feels pretty comfortable, actually. Better than before. Way better.

 

Interfaith and intercultural.

https://www.scu.edu/cas/graduate-program-in-pastoral-ministries/

 

Earlham School of Religion is affiliated with the Society of Friends (Quaker) which is non-creedal, and has prepared ministers for many denominations including Unitarian Universalist. Many of its programs are online or low-res, which it collectively calls "Access" programs.

Community of Christ Seminary at Graceland University is affiliated with the Community of Christ (formerly named the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), which is non-creedal. "It is open to all faith backgrounds. The Seminary focuses on changing the world through developing communities of love and dismantling systems of oppression." Its MAR and MA in Peace and Social Transformation are available online.