Universities and Theology

natewood3 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 09:11 AM

Does anyone know where to find a list of some sort of the best universities to attend if you want to do a Ph.D. in Religious Studies/Religion/Theology? Obviously, Chicago, Duke, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Marquette, and Emory are some of the schools that I don't need to be told about. Say you do not have the money or say you could not get into one of those schools, but you still want to do a Ph.D. at a university, what other schools would one consider (maybe the top 10 schools outside of those)?

toddpedlar · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natewood3

Does anyone know where to find a list of some sort of the best universities to attend if you want to do a Ph.D. in Religious Studies/Religion/Theology? Obviously, Chicago, Duke, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Marquette, and Emory are some of the schools that I don't need to be told about. Say you do not have the money or say you could not get into one of those schools, but you still want to do a Ph.D. at a university, what other schools would one consider (maybe the top 10 schools outside of those)?

With all due respect, I wouldn't choose to attend any of that list - but then, because of the nature of "religious studies" I wouldn't get such a degree at all. Since none of the above holds to any form whatsoever of proper respect for the Scriptures, I can't imagine wanting to submit myself to that.

Are you aiming to teach in a Religion department, ultimately - or if you don't mind sharing, what's your end goal of pursuing such a degree?

Backwoods Presbyterian · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 10:01 AM

It is worth noting that if you want to teach at a major university you better be ready to give up any sense of Orthodoxy. They will not hire you if you believe even in "Limited Innerency". Be careful.

natewood3 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:20 PM

My goal would not be to teach at a secular university. I want to teach the Bible in a private college or seminary. I understand that secular universities are not conservative, reject inerrancy, etc., etc. I am honestly just curious as to what other universities people attend if they do not go to one of the Ivy league schools or somewhere like University of Chicago. I don't know many other schools with a religion or theology program in Ph.D. level work. I know of Vanderbilt, but that is one of the only other schools...

toddpedlar · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natewood3

My goal would not be to teach at a secular university. I want to teach the Bible in a private college or seminary. I understand that secular universities are not conservative, reject inerrancy, etc., etc. I am honestly just curious as to what other universities people attend if they do not go to one of the Ivy league schools or somewhere like University of Chicago. I don't know many other schools with a religion or theology program in Ph.D. level work. I know of Vanderbilt, but that is one of the only other schools...

By private college I assume you mean private Christian college (and those I'd put in such a category would be frightfully few) as opposed to most private colleges, which would want you to have a nice liberal Bible-rejecting degree. Your best bet for finding out what degree you should pursue is to look at where people have their PhD's from who teach at the schools your interested in. Most of the time such information ought to be easily obtainable. You can do the same for seminaries.

toddpedlar · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:59 PM

what's wrong with your present school, btw? You can get a PhD there. Baylor is probably also a reasonable bet, as is Fuller. Several seminaries, in fact, do have PhD programs. If you're aiming for private Christian colleges or seminaries, this is probably viable.

Again, though, check out the faculties at seminaries or private Christian colleges that are attractive to you, and see where their faculty got their degrees.

I really would steer far away from most secular "Religious studies" programs - the take you'll be required to adopt in writing a dissertation at such a place will very likely make you ill, and, if not forcing you, strongly steer you toward a necessary compromising of your integrity as a Bible-believing Christian.

DMcFadden · #7 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 03:23 PM

I agree with Todd. SBTS and Fuller would be two good choices for a degree with enough prestige to get you into a classroom. Avoid "religious studies" departments in universities like the plague! Well, actually, you would have a better survival rate with the plague.