Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[fqllve]

jesus himself was quite openly religious, i'd think... but i generally think of him as the king of hypocrites

His teachings were written down by four different people with four different agendas. It'd be more surprising if there weren't conflicts.

Anyway, that was already cleared up.

Right. The previous part was condemning those that used their apparent piety to gain temporal power and influence.

[Criptfeind]

Being a minister takes skills like every other job, why not a place to learn how?

On the other hand, there is nothing stopping you from going and being one right now, you almost certainly will not succeed... Maybe if there was a place you could go learn the skills needed...

What skills are required that are learned at a bible college?

I have no clue.

Charisma skills for sure.

Skills on how to run a church.

Skills how to do many things.

I have no sources here, I will go looking for some if you want. But I want to know if you think it is not hard to lead a group of several hundred people in a wide range of activities and be a responsible manager for a large building with many employees.

Edit: Lutherans do not have colleges I believe.

[Willfor]

What skills are required that are learned at a bible college?

Comparative theology, public speaking, bible study, hermeneutics, small business, etc.

The career of a pastor fresh out of school is usually working as an assistant pastor or ministering a small church. I worked with one pastor who was a Lutheran, but couldn't find a spot anywhere in the area, and had to settle for a small Baptist church. And as the fate of some (many?) small pastors go, needed to supplement his income. He did eventually find a more fitting opening though, and moved on.

[Criptfeind]

I worked with one pastor who was a Lutheran, but couldn't find a spot anywhere in the area, and had to settle for a small Baptist church.

That has got to be a little awkward. At least it was not like roman catholic, but man still.

[Sowelu]

What skills are required that are learned at a bible college?

You also have to serve in some capacity as a psychologist, a marriage counselor, stuff like that...  As a priest, for a lot of people, you are THE trusted person in their community.  People will go to you first about a lot of things.  Kid's being molested by his uncle, and he's too ashamed to tell his parents?  He'll go to his priest, and that priest had better damn well know how to deal with that kind of situation.

I worked with one pastor who was a Lutheran, but couldn't find a spot anywhere in the area, and had to settle for a small Baptist church.

That has got to be a little awkward. At least it was not like roman catholic, but man still.

Maybe a bit, but remember, you're all serving the same God.  You have different interpretations, different ritual, but you're all essentially on the same side.

[Urist is dead tome]

You also have to serve in some capacity as a psychologist, a marriage counselor, stuff like that...  As a priest, for a lot of people, you are THE trusted person in their community.  People will go to you first about a lot of things.  Kid's being molested by his uncle, and he's too ashamed to tell his parents?  He'll go to his priest, and that priest had better damn well know how to deal with that kind of situation.

And I'm fairly sure that you don't have to go to college to know how to handle that.

[fqllve]

You need some kind of training though. Dealing with situations like that is extremely difficult and extremely important. The last thing you need is a greenhorn in that kind of position.

[Sowelu]

You also have to serve in some capacity as a psychologist, a marriage counselor, stuff like that...  As a priest, for a lot of people, you are THE trusted person in their community.  People will go to you first about a lot of things.  Kid's being molested by his uncle, and he's too ashamed to tell his parents?  He'll go to his priest, and that priest had better damn well know how to deal with that kind of situation.

And I'm fairly sure that you don't have to go to college to know how to handle that.

I respectfully disagree.  If you're taking peoples' lives into your own hands like that, you should have training.  Could someone with many years of experience pull it off?  Yeah, I'm sure they could.  But someone who's new to that stuff and has no training would be dangerous taking on that kind of responsibility.  People can put their lives in your hands in a lot more ways than just spiritual ones.  You're not just a preacher, you are a de facto community leader.

[Criptfeind]

And I'm fairly sure that you don't have to go to college to know how to handle that.

I am not really sure how to say this anything but bluntly.

You are wrong. No one is born with small business management, counseling, knowledge of religion, and leadership skills.

[Urist is dead tome]

But here's my point: Do you really thing that God wants all his pastors to have a diploma as opposed to being learned in the scriptures themselves? Which do you think is more important?

I respectfully disagree.  If you're taking peoples' lives into your own hands like that, you should have training.  Could someone with many years of experience pull it off?  Yeah, I'm sure they could.  But someone who's new to that stuff and has no training would be dangerous taking on that kind of responsibility.  People can put their lives in your hands in a lot more ways than just spiritual ones.  You're not just a preacher, you are a de facto community leader.

I can't deny that but the answer to your earlier example is obvious.

And I'm fairly sure that you don't have to go to college to know how to handle that.

I am not really sure how to say this anything but bluntly.

You are wrong. No one is born with small business management, counseling, knowledge of religion, and leadership skills.

I was referring to his earlier example of a lad being molested by his uncle.

[Willfor]

That has got to be a little awkward. At least it was not like roman catholic, but man still.

That is where the Comparative Theology comes into play. It's much easier not to mess up on the finer points if you know exactly what they are. Usually, a person in that position just avoids the difficult issues altogether, or they are asked to leave by the congregation.

It's not actually a very fun job given that office politics often involves a boatload of people who have criticisms of your work both above you in your organisation and in front of you when you're trying to preach. I've never felt it would be an ideal occupation for me, and luckily, I'll never have to deal with it.

[Urist is dead tome]

What America needs is traveling preachers who walk all over the country preaching. That would be a step up, at least.

[fqllve]

I can't deny that but the answer to your earlier example is obvious.

It's not just a matter of giving the right advice. Have you ever spoken to someone in that kind of situation? I have, and I'm damn well sure that I'm not equipped to provide them the comfort that they desperately need. And when you're functioning in the capacity of a pastor that's what the person expects from you. Comfort and understanding.

[freeformschooler]

And I'm fairly sure that you don't have to go to college to know how to handle that.

I am not really sure how to say this anything but bluntly.

You are wrong. No one is born with small business management, counseling, knowledge of religion, and leadership skills.

Hey precisely! My dad went to a bible college to learn all that stuff (but especially knowledge of religion and leadership skills and he was going to "become a preacher" and also art since that was his minor). Though this is almost irrelevant because my parents ran ran ran far away from all the southern bible stuff before they had kids. Anyway, getting off topic.

[Criptfeind]

But here's my point: Do you really thing that God wants all his pastors to have a diploma as opposed to being learned in the scriptures themselves? Which do you think is more important?

Well, honestly? The diploma.

But that is no reason why they can not have both. It is not mutually exclusive.

I was referring to his earlier example of a lad being molested by his uncle.

Okay. That is less then a flat no, but I still would rather have someone with SKILLS in the matter handle it. I really would not trust a untrained person not to bungle it.