The "Bethany Discussion Forum"

Thread is dead

uncle janko,
You are right, this thread is off topic. I think we should let the thread die. All in favour, say "Yippee!"

 

Oh, I dunno. I would like to know what Shuemake knew and when did he know it. Whatever you guys want is OK, though.

I'm sure everything will float to the top again. It always does.

 

By the by, I am also a little surprised that Bethany, representing a mostly cessationist viewpoint, isn't that right Alan/Craig? , gave a PhD, in Thelogy/Bible I'd suppose, to the Pentecostal ,good Ric Walston. Not that I dislike the idea of an eclectic evangelicalism...but I supposed that Bethany would not. Wonder if Ric's dissertation there also was in tongues as it was elsewhere once or twice.

Recently on the Bethany forum the question was raised as to successful doc grads. Walston was mentioned there as one success, who, I think, does not even anymore reference in his academic history the Bethany work.

 

Bill: I think both Jimmy and Rick studied in the psychology department rather than the Bible /theology department. Perhaps Bethany's doctrinal standards are less stringent--or doctrinal variance would be less noticed-- in non-pastoral and theological areas. This would not be unususal.

Blessings

 

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Craig,

Perhaps you are right. Yet, as I read the Bethany curriculum for the PhD in Religion in Christian counseling nearly half of the coursework, about 30 sem units, is in Bible related studies. One would think charismata, over which some make much fuss, might be noticed in the contexts of 30 semester units of Bible Study!

Further, I think, the ThM which Jimmy has , is not offered in Counseling at all, but consists almost wholly of Bible/Theology. Consequently, that either or both got PhDs in "Counseling" yet still does not eliminate my curiosity.

Please understand, if I had my way, charismatics would be accepted along with cessationists in most any academic or church setting. That perspective has cost me a little and may still.

 

Good job!

Thanks to all concerned for the persistent effort it took to flush this particular game. The series of threads on Bethany of Dothan over the last couple weeks has brought much valuable information to light regarding the outfit and its (apparently former) champion.

Truth counts.

 

Regardless of what their doctrinal position actually is, I am concerned that it seems so easy to bypass it at this particular school as long as one is a paying customer. If they want to admit people who are not just outside their particular doctrinal position (Walston?), but blatantly heterodox (Clifton), fine, but then just be honest about it and ditch the doctrinal statement altogether.

Dave

 

Many RA/ATS seminaries admit students who do not agree with the school's doctrinal position, while at the same time adhering to a particular doctrinal statement. My doctorate was earned at a Presbyterian seminary, the director of my doctoral committee was a devout calvinist, yet my theological position is not calvinism.

 

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No doubt you were the subject of much prayer in the faculty lounge

 

Russell,

I am well aware that many seminaries admit people who do not agree with every tenet of the doctrinal position. However, my post refers primarily to admitting people outside the orthodox faith itself, i.e. "but blatantly heterodox (Clifton)". I do not draw any parallel to your own bad Arminian self studying at a Reformed seminary. Secondary doctrinal issues pale next to denying the deity of Christ. Hope you took no offense.

Dave


Russell: "Many RA/ATS seminaries admit students who do not agree with the school's doctrinal position, while at the same time adhering to a particular doctrinal statement. My doctorate was earned at a Presbyterian seminary, the director of my doctoral committee was a devout calvinist, yet my theological position is not calvinism."

 

My point in all this was not to gripe that a seminary in another tradition did not adhere to my notions of confessional exclusivity, or even to marvel at its failure to adhere to its own statement of faith, but to find out who was deceiving whom--something made more difficult by fairly poor track records (re: millish behavior) on the part of more than one object of inquiry.

 

Perhaps this is why I was always eating alone in the cafeteria. I was not one of the elect.

 

It's slang, not slander, friend Russell.

Dave

 

Bill,
Others may be better able to answer this. I do know that there are those in some fundamentalist circles that hold to a view more akin to the late John R. Rice, whose doctine of the Spirit resembled a second blessing view more than the typical Baptist view. I frankly do not know if this is the case with Bethany, but if so, this would have allowed Walston a little more room to move, and Bethany the chance to be a little more accepting of Rick.

 

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I think my old Baptist church in San Diego where Tim LaHaye was the pastor might have been Independent Baptist. We loved Rice and his, "Bobbed Hair, Bossy Wives, and Women Preachers " book. Anyway, Tim and I disagreed over 1 Cor 13:8-10.

I'm glad many schools let various positions within evangelicalism in to study. By "evangelicalism" I mean by ETS standards. Even Unk would fit there...doctrinally that is...not tempermentally

 

I agree, Bill.