Would it be wrong to pursue an unaccredited DL Bible degree?

Okay, if you insist . . .

One of the facdtors I have often looked at when evaluating an institution is its history. ACCS is formerly the University of Biblical Studies (and befiore that, Modular Education). Here's what IO wrote about them in NIFI:

[Keep in mind, of course, that these comments were current at the time of publication (the 4th edition of NIFI, published in 1994). UBS has since become ACCS; TRACS, of course, did accredited them fully; and TRACS went on to clean up its act (somewhat) and is now approved by CHEA.]

I'm not saying that ACCS did not improve as well, but based on its history, I would hardly recommend it as the pinnacle of credible schools.

Nonetheless, you now have some background as to my opinion of them. I see the need for no further comment on my end, since they don't interest me in the first place. After all, I have an RA doctorate, so I'm better than the rest of you evangelicals anyway. Cuter, too.*
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* For readers who do not know me, that was said with tongue in cheek. I take myself no more seriously than I take Bill.

 

I guess Bill Grover's CV has raised some red flags. The unaccredited Loma Linda degree has leavened the whole lump of his academic work.

While in the main I agree with Steve on the importance of RA, i.e, in terms of its utilitarian value, I disagree that substantive non-RA degrees place one's RA degrees in question--at least not in all contexts.

For example, if one aspires to serve in an academic context, then Hey, Hey, RA all the Way.

For those who are called to parish ministry, there are many non-RA programs which can facilitate the ministerial development/training of a minister. If an individual earned a RA bachelor's degree, then pursued a non-RA M.Div., one which was approved by his/her denomination for ordination, what would be wrong with pursuing this degree? Granted, it would not qualify one to enter a RA doctoral program, nor would it transfer to most RA schools. But if a minister is going to pursue parish ministry, realizes the limitations of the non-RA credential, if it is accepted by the organization he/she is going to serve, then for this small group of individuals the non-RA degree works.

 

Thanks everyone for your beautiful replies. They are so very helpful. Levicoff, I really appreciate your bluntness and your intelligient responses about the biblical programs. It would be safest route to choose a RA school for this reason. And that's what I'll decide to stick with when I am doing my DL program search.

Everyone is right about being wary of programs with certain doctrinal beliefs. The Christian college that I attended in New York for my first degree is named Nyack College. It is affiliated with the Christian Missionary Alliance denomination. This environment emphasized more on missions work, rather than acadamia such as pursuing a law, business, or medicine as a degree. The latter careers seemed like they were shunned upon at the college. I respect missionaries and the way they put their life on the line for the gospel. However, God doesn't ordain everyone to do that.

The environment represented a sort of pseudo-Christianity, where God was placed in a box. I remember being in chapel ceremonies at the school and would recall students state, "If you come to this Bible study, God will show up." I know God to be existent everywhere.

Furthermore, free thinking, and looking at other religious doctrines weren't encouraged. In addition, current events around the world was hardly every discussed or talked about. It seemed more conservative and sheltered if anything. And I vowed to myself that I would never attend an environment like that again.

It was rather a religious shock to me being in this environment especially from my Episcopalian background. I am seeking to learn the Bible in a very conscious way so that I can make it applicable to what I do in daily life (not just in a religious/church-based realm); in my career as a lawyer, and to examine the beautiful forms of literature that is in the Bible -- without getting a "hissy fit," and pointing the finger at someone and judging what they are doing in life and the way they are doing it.

The information that I have learned from everyone here in this forum/post will help me make wise decisions in the future.

 

May I suggest that you look at South African Theological Seminary. It is GAAP and has DL courses that will allow you to engage in whatever depth of theological study you wish.

It bothers me that GUYS think they are CUTE!!!!!!!!

But, being Presbyterian, I don't really care!!!!!!!!!

 

........

Admit it Howard, you really are jealous

 

One might also add that based on the criteria of using a school's history to label their current status we could conclude in regard to the Union Institute *based on its history, that one would hardly recommend it as the pinnacle of credible schools.* Someone here (or old aed) once posted an news article from a number of years ago detailing it's early problems and calling it a 'degree mill' (if I remember correctly). A similar article detailed the University of Sarasota operating out of a motel early on and casting similar thoughts on the school.

***Note: I am only using this as a means to point out the absurdity of Steve's deduction. I have nothing but the greatest respect for Union & Sarasota who recovered from early mis steps to become quite credible schools.

North

 

Three brief comments . . .

First, to krazymack . . . In your search, be sure to check out the ilstings at http://www.bakersguide.com. This is the website of Jason Baker, author of the best guide to nontraditional religious degree programs currently on the market. (Yes, I think Walston's Guide is crap, especially with his conflicts of interest.) Jason did his guide after I stopped revising Name It & Frame It, and I endorse it fully. The print version of his book is from Baker Book House. [No relation to Jason except that he is one of their authors. Baker is the second largest of the religious publishers in the U.S. in terms of titles (they published my book Street Smarts in 1994).] Like me, Jason sticks to recommending only programs that are legitimately accredited.

I do not intend to say that a school's histroy is the ultimate criterion in its current credibility, merely that a shady history raises a red flag that dictates the school being checked out more carefully. North's comments about Union and Sarasota are quite correct and on point. (In fact, some of Union's current problems make their early accreditation hassles look like child's play.) Likewise, even an RA school can go down the tubes. Long-timers in this field remember the demise of the once-unique Beacon College, an early RA distance program in Washington, DC, as well as when Liberty U. was put on probation by SACS a few years ago until they cleaned up their act.

And I have no doubt that Bill Grover is cute. He is, after all, a Fundie - and as anyone on the inside knows, Fundie guys are either cute or dorks (there's no in-between). I thank Bill for clarifying which contingent he is in.