During my years at Southeastern, I've been pointed towards some amazing illustrations of what went on in SBC seminaries in the 1980s. What I link to here is only a sample.
The first link is to an article that follows up on the lives and ministries of women doctoral students at Southern Seminary in the pre-Mohler years. Well, actually it was during the Mohler-as-student years, which you'll see described rather colorfully if you read closely. The link to download the document is about 2/3 down the page under the title "Once There Was a Camelot."
The second link is to a blog that transcribes a liturgy titled "Celebration of the New Humanity" that was read (or whatever you do with liturgies) in the Southeastern Seminary chapel in 1983. Oops, now I see that you "recite" a liturgy. Both of these snapshots of the past are absolutely fascinating and have reminded me of how great a gift is a God-centered education, and what an empty religion is that which is man-centered (oops again, "person-centered").
Perhaps I should mention, for those who believe that SBTS and SEBTS are still theologically liberal, that Southeastern has preaching in chapel now. That preaching uses the Bible in a remarkably similar way to how it is used in fundamentalist institutions.
4 comments:
I don't have anything against liturgies, per se. I do think this one is pretty bad though. Do you disagree?
Or are you talking about my read/recite thing? I'm actually poking fun at myself for not knowing.
How could anyone possibly think either Southern or Southeastern are theologically liberal? That is laughable. What kind of circles do you run in and/or frequent your blog?
Jim,
Thanks for the summary.
Josh,
I am a Baptist but not part of an SBC church. My church is what is often called "independent Baptist." When independent Baptists think of the SBC, many of them still think in a 1980s seminary paradigm. They think theologically conservative SBC churches are anomalies if not oxymorons. I know this is true. I've talked to them and had them give me strange looks when they heard I went to SEBTS.
On the other hand, many Southern Baptists hear the term "independent Baptist" and think fire-breathing, KJV only, Arminian, Old Scofield (two ways of salvation) dispensationalists. I also know this is true. I've talked to them at SEBTS and had them give me strange looks when I told them I was an independent Baptist. That's also why I usually call myself an unaffiliated Baptist now.
Or maybe there is another reason I frequently get strange looks . . .
Thanks for clearing that up Ben.
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