Trinity College of the Bible Theological Seminary?

Okay... I have to admit... that was pretty good.

 

Hey, after all, we are "homies."

 

Without any doubt. That is not to discourage the process but the easiest thing in the world is to critique and shred someone elses work. That is why movie critics and book critics have so much fun.

Again, that is not to say that the process is wrong, merely easy.

North

 

I don't think that it is at all easy to evaluate a doctoral dissertation in New Testament which in the introductory chapter is said to be committed to using the grammatico-historical, exegetical, method of hermeneutic and which actually follows through and uses that very method. It would take a great deal of work for the evaluator in that case to ascertain if the points made by that method are really supported by a sound exegesis and if they cohere with the expressed belief system of the writer.

On the other hand, if a PhD dissertation in New Testament at the beginning says that it will use grammar (that's what grammatico means !!) to establish its points and then uses no Greek grammars ,and does no Greek exegeses, and for lexical information cites from Vines, a Sunday School workers' resource, instead of, say TDNT, and even gets info about what Calvin says from a homiletical commentary by another, instead of going directly to what Calvin actually wrote , then , I agree, it is easy to evaluate that sort of dissertation.

Or, of course, to avoid being labeled as too nitpicky, or too conceited, or as too unaccomplished, we could instead just say that as all dissertations, and all schools, and all politicians, and all viewpoints , and all life styles, and all ethical sytems, and all forms of government, and all posters at DI have their own critics , that we should not be critical of any ; the reasoning is that if ALL dissertations could be criticized, then no one dissertation should be-- even if it screams out its major, glaring, rigor-killing flaws !

 

The problem with doctoral dissertations, whether based on sound research and scholarship or on shoddy investigation and sloppy intellectualism, is that even though they are geared to presenting original thoughts and ideas, and being a major contribution to a particualr field, is that no one reads them, on most ocassions, except the evaluators.

Therefore, unless published, both brilliant and uncelebrated dissertations go unnoticed. The ones making major contributions to the field usually don't and the bad ones fail to discredit the field.

 

Hi Dr. North,

See you are now enrolled in Nations. How is this going?

Care to share any details on the logistics and the rigor (Hi Bill! )

 

Just to bring this somehow within skunk distance of the topic--how about someone (not me) starting a thread devoted to a scrupulous, nitpicky*, rigorous go-over of the Master's Divinity uh School website?

*Term derives from the late Sr. M. Rosalie Nitpicky, SNCS, a North Carpathian nun formerly of Berwyn, Illinois, a great blues devotee and all around baleboosta.

 

It seems like we have wandered a bit from your original question. I, for one, am quite interested to read what you asked - and what responses you received.

Looking forward to your report.
Randall

 

Matt,

I was unable to post for several weeks due to technical problems (weeping and gnashing of teeth-aarg), but I am so glad you decided to aim higher. There are plenty of high quality options available to you.

Other than that, "Uh - What Bill G. and the Uncle said!"

 

I'm sorry, Bill. Actually, I've got a post-it note here to send you a PM or an email, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I had noticed -- literally one second before it was deleted -- that you sent me an email through these forums. I have an automated process that deletes certain emails before the ones I want are downloaded, and I normally delete most of the notifications I get from here (not always, but alot); and I didn't realize that the notice about your email was not just another posting notification until literally one second or so before it slid off the screen and into oblivion. So I never really knew what you wrote to me about and I just hadn't gotten around to emailing or PMing you and asking what it was. I'm guessing it was what you're now asking here. My apologies.

I'll tell you (and everyone here reading) what the problem... er... well, really, just the delay... is: I'm an anally-retentive SOB who is trying to be too complete. What I mean is, I'm trying to go through all those threads to which Ted linked us -- every last one -- and I'm summarizing all the complaints. The summarizing is easy. I just haven't been able to find the time to wade through all the threads. I'm only two thirds or so done... and have been for a week or two.

It's completely my fault. I just have lots-o-stuff going on and I'm selective about the parts of my life that I prioritize well, and those that I don't. DI sometimes falls into the latter category.

I'll get back to work on it, then post the summary of the complaints here for you guys to correct and to help me understand, then I'll go ask Trinity to respond.

Ugh. Sorry, again, for the delay. My bad. I didn't mean to be so disrespectful.

 

I'm sure there's no rush, Gregg. I'm sure everyone appreciates your thoroughness. I think it is going to be fascinating to hear from someone from Trinity. Thanks for your willingness to do this.

 

thanks

 

Multumesc foarte mult.