Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

I am pleased that Iliff School of Theology is located in nearby Denver.
I've never attended, but had I pursued the Diaconal ministry, I'm certain
I would have.  Iliff is owned and run by the United Methodist Church.
However, one need not be a UM to teach or study there.

A few friends of mine are presently attending or have attended Iliff.
One is the present director of evangelism of the United Methodist church
I attend.  Another is a chaplain at a hospital in Denver.  Another is
pursuing the Diaconal ministry.

There are some real advantages to living so close to such a school.  It's
relatively easy to hear some well-known speakers, such as Vincent Harding,
at extracurricular events.

Peace,
Richard

If I had unlimited resources, I think I'd like to go to Union Theological
Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.  I'm very impressed by the school's president,
Leonard I. Sweet.

In his book, "The Lion's Pride," Sweet examines the the sometimes all-too-
cozy relationship in America between religion and war.  Sweet scrutinizes
America's "with God on our side" militarism, it's historical origins and
consequences.

I heard Sweet preach a few years ago.  Heavy-duty.  Industrial-strength
godliness.

Shalom,
Richard

    re: .2
    
    Dayton?  Richard, that's my home town!  I'm not up on the Union
    Theological Seminary...Could you tell me about it?
    
    Thanks,  Ruth

    .3 Well, I looked through my "stuff" and I can't find the pamphlet
    I know I had at one time on Union Theological Seminary, Ruth.  So,
    I can't tell you much more about it, except that it seems to be
    widely recognized and respected institution.
    
    The Rev. Shelley Hamilton, who I learned much from in a short period
    of time, was a student there.  She's now a pastor of a fairly large
    church in Texas.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    There are a number of Union Theological Seminaries. One of them is
    in NYC. I don't know much about any of them except that they range
    from conservative to liberal so it's important to make sure people
    know which one you are talking about. :-)

    		Alfred

    As an undergraduate I attended a religious university. I guess you
    could call it that. Chapel attendance three times a week was not
    optional. Required courses included one on Old Testament, one on
    New Testament, and a class called "Philosophy and Christian Thought."
    Also smoking, drinking, gambling and dancing were against the rules.

    That the sort of thing included in this topic Richard?

    			Alfred

>    That the sort of thing included in this topic Richard?

Why, yes, I believe so, Alfred.  Actually, this topic was requested by
someone who preferred not to initiate it.

Peace,
Richard

    OK, I'm back.

    As I said I attended a religious oriented college. The student body
    ranged (using this conference as a metric :-)) from conservative to
    very conservative. I still remember that shout one night in the dorm
    "are you a Christian or a Democrat?" :-) 

    Though in other areas it would be considered "liberal." Integration for 
    example. Black students (I use black because African American would only 
    describe part of the black population there) have been a part of the 
    school for most all of it's 100 plus years. And a full part as well. 
    Plans are being made to build a new dorm which will be the third to be 
    named after a remarkable black student of the turn of the century. This 
    in a section of Indiana that is still a hot bed of anti black feelings. 

    My father, who also attended there, relates several stories of whole
    groups of students leaving restaurants (in the 40's) that refused to
    serve black students.

    Chapel was required 3 times a week. Speakers were generally very good.
    We had all kinds of quest speakers. Clergy, politicians, sports
    figures, academics, musicians, and on and on. 

    One of the things I appreciated was the eclectic mix of Christians
    there. In the different years I attended I went to different churches
    based on the influences I found. I attended Mennonite, Methodist,
    and Quaker churches primarily but I visited some others as well. 

    I grew up in New York City. Brooklyn for those of you who know NY.
    Flatbush for those of you who know Brooklyn. I grew up thinking that
    Protestants were a minority in America. After all everyone, outside
    the church I attended was either Catholic or Jewish. Attending school
    in primarily Protestant Indiana was a real eye opener. Also attending
    a Christian school was a real rest in a way. As an active Christian in
    an actively non Christian world, I took some serious heat for it in
    high school, it was nice to be accepted and supported by a whole
    community for a change.

    And supportive is what it was. People would help one an other, pray
    with one an other and study the Bible together. It was great. That 
    feeling of community is something I really miss at times.

    At the time I was there I felt that people who went to secular grade
    and high schools could really use a Christian college but that those
    who went to Christian grade and high schools should go to secular
    colleges. The reason being that a student who went to secular grade
    and high schools needed a break before going into the real world. Also
    that they'd benefit far more from the religious education and
    preparation for dealing with a non Christian world. On the other hand
    the student who attended Christian grade/high schools had had the
    religious training and could benefit from the semi protected world of
    college to "ease into" the real world.

    I still agree with this to some extent. Although there are still some
    benefits for those who attended Christian schools throughout. One is
    that it's a great place to find a spouse. I didn't find one there but
    my brother and father both did. :-) My wife and I have talked about our
    son attending there. I was not initially supportive of the idea only
    because he's attended Catholic schools for all but one year of his
    education so far. He'll go where ever he wants of course but I might
    have once discouraged him from attending TU. Now I wouldn't for a
    couple of reasons.

    One is that he already has some good experience defending himself and
    his religious beliefs. Almost 9 years of Catholic school attendance has
    not turned him into a Catholic. I believe that 4 years in a Christian
    college would strengthen his beliefs but not change them. I do believe
    that a college level training in Christianity, especially with some
    strong doses of philosophy, would do him some good. Also there is the
    idea of meeting and building friendships with a wide range of
    Christians from around the world. This is a very good thing. If he
    should find a Christian wife so much the better but that's not why
    one should attend college.

    			Alfred

    .8  Interesting stuff, Alfred!
    
    Richard