Runtu wrote:What I mean is that the church seems to have a utilitarian approach to BYU: what will benefit the church? I think it's clear they don't believe that theology and religious studies benefit the church in a practical way.
Most Americans have the kind attitude that, if they are going to get degree, they want it to have earning power and degrees in the Humanities are perceived to be “useless”. I’m sure at BYU, there is more demand for Business or Engineering type classes.
I think one of the degrees most in demand is the BS in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. I'm not sure it's all that practical.
MrStakhanovite wrote:That may be, but BYU manages to place students in top programs all over the world, so it’s not like going to Bob Jones or Liberty U.
If they were to be grouped together, the BYU football team would win every time. Heck, they would even beat Oral Roberts in the annual Prayer Invitational.
On MAD, they pointed out that there would be no employment possibilities with a theology degree from BYU. Furthermore, this has the potential of placing these theology degree Saints squarely at odds with the Mantleists.
Religious studies for Mormons is something you spend your life at while attending church, going to the temple, conducting FHe, home teaching, etc, etc.
Most Mormons study religion for personal edification and to essentially "get by". Why would they want to focus on that with any type of career mindset. How many young Mormons even consider making a living in religious studies?
Yeah, engineering, law, accounting, education, etc. That's why people go to BYU. Well, and to find a spouse.
Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given... Zeus (1178 BC)
MrStakhanovite wrote:One could easily create a solid “Theology” degree at BYU, mixing and matching classes out of the Philosophy and Classics departments. The only downside is one wouldn’t get much in the way of theology that is more specific to LDS beliefs, and even more hindering, no training in Pastoral theology.
But I don’t think BYU and a Jesuit schools a fair comparison, given the history and mission of the Jesuits, BYU was not founded as a seminary like Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Norte Dame, etc, etc.
I am almost certain that Notre Dame was not founded as a seminary but as a university. Not that this really matters in this conversation.
Hoops wrote:I recommend, in the strongest terms possible, Saint Louis University. I know it well.
I don't know it well, but have heard that it's a very good school.
We'll be taking a little road trip in July, going through St. Louis and visiting SLU and then heading up to Chicago where we'll visit the University of Chicago and Northwestern. Chicago is too far away, in my book, but my daughter thinks she might like it.
Runtu wrote:What I mean is that the church seems to have a utilitarian approach to BYU: what will benefit the church? I think it's clear they don't believe that theology and religious studies benefit the church in a practical way.
I think you're right, Runtu, but there are Mormons interested in theology and religious studies; sometimes we interact with them right here on this board!
Perhaps BYU will someday venture into the religious studies business? There might be more interest than they imagine.