Required reading
Discussions (Vol 2) by Robert L. Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'Memorial on theological education'.
My summary
Today Dabney gives his thoughts on seminaries for the Presbyterian church in his location and time.
He speaks about:
(i) the form of control of seminaries;
(ii) the plan and constitution of the seminary;
(iii) the propriety of educating young ministers under literary responsibilities and collegiate rules like other men;
(iv) the attempt to combine a practical training in parochial duties with the literary and religious cultivation of the divinity student;
(v) the form in which aid should be extended to meritorious young men of scanty means;
(vi) the relations of those sciences which affect the credit of inspiration.
What grabbed me
I was interested in Dabney's thoughts on educating ministers in the general sciences: 'The great lights of these sciences, armed with the results of life-long study, are not to be silenced, if perchance infidel, by a class of men who make it a by-play to turn aside from their own vocation, and pick up a scanty outline of this foreign learning. These clerical smatterers will only make matters worse by displaying their own ignorance ; and their so-called defences of inspiration will provoke the contempt and sneers of their assailants. If Christianity needs to be defended against the assaults of natural science with the weapons of natural science, it must be done by competent Christian laymen, or by the few ministers who, like Dr. Bachman, are enabled to make natural science a profound study. Let our Cabells defend the "unity of the race" while our pastors preach the simple gospel. '
I think I agree. A minister's expertise is theology. Rarely is there time or capacity to be an expert in other matters and such attempts may do more damage than good.
Next week's reading
Read 'Lay-preaching'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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