PODCAST INTERVIEW

Listen to Matt Bates’s hour-long interview with me on theological issues related to Caesar and the Sacrament. Click link below to access the OnScript podcast. 

Here is Matt’s short evaluation of my book:

OnScript’s Review: When we recover the first-century context for Christian baptism, we discover its explosive sociopolitical power. Those who were baptized were rejecting Rome’s empire built on coercive violence, instead pledging a sacrament (oath) of allegiance to a cruciform king. Caesar and the Sacrament is a must read for those investigating salvation in early Christianity. –Matthew W. Bates, author of Gospel Allegiance.

You can find the podcast at: https://onscript.study/podcast/r-alan-streett-caesar-and-the-sacrament/

MASTER OF DIVINITY AND MASTER OF ARTS

A Master of Divinity (MDiv) is a “professional” degree offered by a seminary that prepares one for a career in ministry or admission into a seminary DMin program. The DMin is awarded after completing the required course work and writing of a ministry-oriented dissertation. Seminary programs are usually accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

A Masters of Arts (MA) is an “academic” graduate degree offered by a college or university that prepares one for a career in a related field or admission into an American university PhD program. Such degrees are approved by regional accrediting agencies.

Students with a seminary MDiv in hand who wish to enter a university PhD program will likely be asked to earn an “academic” MA from an accredited college/university prior to being considered for admission.

SEMINARY VS DIVINITY SCHOOL

What is the difference between a Seminary and a Divinity School?

A seminary is a graduate school representing a particular denomination and/or theological persuasion that trains students for ministry-related careers. The MDiv is the primary degree.

A Divinity school is a graduate school linked to a university. Just as Harvard University has a Law School and a Medical School, so it has a Divinity School that trains students for ministry-related careers. The MDiv is the primary degree. 

Because Divinity schools are related to research universities, they have access to additional resources such as libraries and religion professors. Divinity schools, unlike seminaries, are usually open to a variety of theological perspectives.

WHICH IS BEST: A UNIVERSITY OR SEMINARY PHD?

What is the difference between a university and a seminary PhD in Religious Studies? The former prepares a person to teach at a college or university. It is a research-driven degree. 

Universities that offer PhDs are ranked according to the quality of their programs and placed into one of three tiers. For example, Harvard and Rice are top tier schools. Fordham and University of Dallas are second tier. Youngstown State University and Regent University are third tier. A PhD graduate from Regent will not likely land a teaching job at the University of Chicago. But a Harvard grad may teach at Regent.

Seminaries are professional schools that prepare graduates for ministry. Most seminaries offer practical doctorates (DMin) to help pastors hone the skills of their craft. Early on, however, a few seminaries such as Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (KY) and Union Theological Seminary (NY) began to offer academic doctorates (PhDs) for those wishing to be scholar-pastors or to teach at a seminary or a Christian college.* Other seminaries soon followed. Seminary PhD degrees usually take 3 years to complete.

In the wider world of academia, seminary PhD programs in biblical studies are not as respected, rightly or wrongly, as their university counterparts because they are creedal. Some seminary dissertations are more “topic-oriented” than “thesis-oriented” and fail to plumb the depths of primary source materials. Whereas, students in a PhD program at Yale or UT Austin must become familiar with everything that has ever been written on the limited scope of their thesis. These programs usually take 5-6 years to complete.

Seminaries accept the majority of the applicants into their PhD programs. This is the not the case at top-tier universities. Some Religion departments accept fewer than 2-4 new students per year into their program. The competition is brutal. 

Universities in the top two tiers usually offer PhD students stipends starting around $20,000 per year. Seminary PhD students rarely receive stipends, but they may find employment as adjuncts.

Which is better—a University or Seminary PhD? That’s a difficult question. Each has a niche in education. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruit, but are unique in other ways.  A better question may be, “Which program is best for you?” That depends on your interests, career goals, and abilities. Do you wish to devote your life’s energy to historical research and scholarly publications? If so, you may want to pursue a university PhD.  If you are more interested in teaching or ministering  to Christians, then a seminary PhD may fit the bill.

*Graduation from a select few Ivy League seminaries, such as Princeton Theological Seminary, might open door to a faculty position at a university.