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Franciscan University Thread


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Thy Geekdom Come

[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1826330' date='Apr 6 2009, 02:33 PM']Is that how they teach people to argue at Franciscan?[/quote]
As far as I know, J.aime never attended FUS.

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[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1826329' date='Apr 6 2009, 03:32 PM']I think what she is referring to is the development of doctrine.[/quote]

Actually I didn't mean "new knowledge" to have any other meaning than "innovation." Pure secular term. A lot of universities have as their main reason for existing the discovery and creation of new knowledge through research. I actually hate that approach since it tends to result in the undergraduates getting the short end of the TA stick while the professors are too busy to actually teach because they are in "the lab" or wherever dreaming up new "information" to continue to justify the school's existence.

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Thy Geekdom Come

[quote name='Maggie' post='1826333' date='Apr 6 2009, 02:36 PM']No? :blink:

Sorry, am I offending people? I don't mean to. Obviously it's his fault for not doing the research about the program he wanted to enter. I'm just saying Franciscan's priority seems to be producing evangelizers rather than PhD's. Nothing wrong with that, I think it's good, you don't need a doctorate to save souls which is kind of the point of our existence here. Obviously he wanted something else and he should have stepped more carefully.[/quote]

I actually agree with you, as long as the point is nuanced without the implication that FUS doesn't produce scholars. The curriculum is largely oriented toward evangelization and not so much toward, for instance, teaching students how to write scholarly articles for theological journals or the like. Nonetheless, anyone who does want to take the degree in that direction is more than provided for. The course load is often little reading quizzes and things like that, where I do think it would be much more scholarly to insist that students write more papers...papers that thoughtfully express the faith of the Church and perhaps delve into answering theological questions.

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[quote name='Maggie' post='1826333' date='Apr 6 2009, 02:36 PM']No? :blink:

Sorry, am I offending people? I don't mean to. Obviously it's his fault for not doing the research about the program he wanted to enter. I'm just saying Franciscan's priority seems to be producing evangelizers rather than PhD's. Nothing wrong with that, I think it's good, you don't need a doctorate to save souls which is kind of the point of our existence here. Obviously he wanted something else and he should have stepped more carefully.[/quote]


Yes you're offending some people (namely me). You've stated that anything less than a PhD in Theology is a waste of time and money. You're making derisive and sweeping comments about a school you know nothing about and did not attend.

I got my undergrad in Theology at the University of St Thomas. I will be the first one to shout from the rafters that there were some teachers there that actively taught heretical content. But I can say that because I was there, I was a witness to it and I complained about it.

I've had a scuffle or two with FUS grads but I would not ever question their education. Every one that I've seen post has taken the discipline of Theology seriously.

BTW I defy you to show me one school who has an undergrad program dedicated to research. People get their undergrad degrees so that they can (if they choose to) continue on to grad school and do research. By the way FUS has a grad school program.

So Yeah Maggie, I'm not offended per se by your being critical of FUS. I'm offended by your sweeping ignorant statements about a topic you know nothing about.

Now if you want to start a thread about wasting your time and money studying so that you can aspire to be an insurance adjuster, I'm all ears.

And I'm touched so many people think of me as hot stuff

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[quote name='Brother Adam' post='1826304' date='Apr 6 2009, 01:47 PM']and FUS students gain a greater knowledge of other areas such as Mariology and Christian spirituality that is lacking at other schools.[/quote]

Don't forget Theology of Angels. It's 1 of 2 such classes in the entire United States. The other is at the Dominican House of Studies.

lol I see Micah already pointed this out.

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[quote name='Maggie' post='1826323' date='Apr 6 2009, 02:27 PM']What I mean is that it is not a research institution, they are not looking for "new knowledge." The students are not really expected or trained to make their own discoveries with the material, rather the focus seems to be on assimilation of what the Church currently teaches and equipping the students with the ability to communicate that teaching to others.[/quote]

It really depends on the class and the Professor. Dr. Minto expected his Biblical Studies students to be able to discover materials on their own, interpret scripture in light of Church teaching & Dei Verbum, use Ancient languages in their exegetical work, and be able to solidly prove their point. He expected us to make discoveries on our own. If you didn't put forth the effort to do so then your grade was pretty much doomed. In the first class with him, he clearly stated that he did not plan on sending out copies of himself, Dr. Hahn, Dr. Miravalle, etc. out into the world. He was training us to be critical thinkers and not just someone who says "because so and so taught me to believe this". So really it comes down to the individual Professor.

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Oh wow! This is insane!

I visited FUS just last october and loved it there!
If they offered the degree I wanted id be signed up for this fall!

However I do have 3 close friends who are all going there this fall AND a sister who is graduating from there this May.



Its hard to imagine the things Im reading on here.
Hmm....

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Brother Adam

Dr. Minto does this as well as Dr. Hildebrand and Dr. Bergma is pretty good at it. Dr. Hahn is great on the grad level, but I wish he helped us develop critical skills a little more as well. Those 4 are probably the best theology teachers at the school. I'm working on Theology and Ministry of the Word by Hahn right now.

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Dr. Hildebrand was my favorite professor. He tried to get his students to think, and not simply regurgitate facts. Dr. Martin was also excellent.

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Hey... I apologize for offending you :( To ME a master's in theology is a waste of time, just to ME. To me it would be like stopping half-way through a med school program... but not everybody feels that way. People have to do what is best for them and what God is calling them to. I don't know of any undergrad program focused on research, I was referring to the FUS master's program. I am sure any Franciscan grad could whoop me pretty good since I have never studied theology at any level, ever, nor do I have any interest in doing so. I wish that the DRE at my parish was a Franciscan grad because things would be a lot better here!

I am not sure what the insurance adjuster thing is supposed to be about... I do work for an insurance company but I have never been an adjuster. I did start out in claims but I have been in risk management for a while now. I studied journalism and went to a school that was known for its journalism program - I did not want to get a BSJ but it was a requirement foisted on me by the person who was supposedly going to pay for my school.

Unfortunately afterward this person changed their mind after my sister refused to help her carry meatballs to a Planned Parenthood celebration party (not kidding). Not sure what they were celebrating but I'm sure it was nothing good. Since I was halfway through, I finished the program, and it was a nice program, but I did not like the profession and I decided to do something else. Luckily there is no Bachelor of Science in Insurance and they take all kinds here.

Incidentally my journalism school was also long on technical skills teaching and very little abstract theory. In fact, in spite of their great reputation I believe many years ago they were in danger of losing their accreditation because of this emphasis on technical skills as opposed to the purely academic side. This has been somewhat rectified but it is still a very "practical" program...

I apologize again, since I am unintentionally offending people I will stop posting in this thread. I think FUS is a great school, I didn't mean to be critical. I thought we were just discussing things.



[quote name='hot stuff' post='1826349' date='Apr 6 2009, 03:53 PM']Yes you're offending some people (namely me). You've stated that anything less than a PhD in Theology is a waste of time and money. You're making derisive and sweeping comments about a school you know nothing about and did not attend.

I got my undergrad in Theology at the University of St Thomas. I will be the first one to shout from the rafters that there were some teachers there that actively taught heretical content. But I can say that because I was there, I was a witness to it and I complained about it.

I've had a scuffle or two with FUS grads but I would not ever question their education. Every one that I've seen post has taken the discipline of Theology seriously.

BTW I defy you to show me one school who has an undergrad program dedicated to research. People get their undergrad degrees so that they can (if they choose to) continue on to grad school and do research. By the way FUS has a grad school program.

So Yeah Maggie, I'm not offended per se by your being critical of FUS. I'm offended by your sweeping ignorant statements about a topic you know nothing about.

Now if you want to start a thread about wasting your time and money studying so that you aspire to be an insurance adjuster, I'm all ears.

And I'm touched so many people think of me as hot stuff[/quote]

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Brother Adam

I am a graduate student (MA in Theology and Christian Ministry). Like Micah and Jennie I have my BA in theology and catechetics from FUS as well.

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