So You're Thinking about Going to Seminary: An Insider's Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)I was browsing Christian book publishers one day and came across the newly published title, "So You're Thinking About Going to Seminary" by Derek Cooper. Of course, since I am trying to figure out which theology graduate programs I should apply for, this instantly went to the top of my reading list!
This is an unprecedented book, that takes a look at the ins-and-outs of seminary, and helps provide a road-map for navigating the terrain. As the cover attests, it helps choose the right seminary, discern if seminary is right for you, explore degree options, what to expect, how to finance the escapade, and more. The author explains his somewhat tumultuous experience of shuffling between a whopping SIX different seminaries, before finishing his academic career.
The book is divided into four parts: (1) Orientation to Seminary, (2) Things to Consider Before Seminary, (3) Things to Consider During Seminary, and (4) Post-Seminary Things to Consider While in Seminary.
The book is packed with information that would take a very long time to accumulate through one's own experience alone. One interesting thing I learned in the orientation is what exactly "seminary" is. Cooper explains that a "Divinity School," a "School of Theology," an a "Seminary," are all theological schools that fall under the big-umbrella term "seminary," but that have important differentiations. The primary point is that a "divinity school" or "school of theology" is usually a theological department/college of a bigger mainstream university, whereas the term "seminary" is often used in independent educational institutions without affiliations to another school.
Part 2 offers chapters on theological affiliations of schools, the "outside" factors to consider (locale, etc.), the "inside" factors (school size, etc.), how to finance, and a walkthrough in applying to schools. This was a good section of the book for making you think about what you want out of your education: small community, or big school with lots of resources? Suburban quiet setting, or urban fast-paced? I'm afraid the theological affiliation section didn't give me exactly what I wanted, but the author is trying to present an unbiased and "neutral" view for all the schools, and didn't delve into theological positions much.
Part 3's highlights included chapters on departments and courses within seminary, discussing biblical studies and theology, church history and practical theology, and different degree programs--both basic and advanced. This section was helpful for learning the more inner-workings of departments and how curriculums are set up, which is helpful for me as I am still trying to find out what I want to specialize my studies in (Old Testament, Historical Theology, or Philosophical Theology).
Particularly interesting was the discussion on different degree programs. If you have ever looked at a list of biblical scholars, their names are followed with every sort of random degree letters: BA, MA, MDiv, MTS, STM, PhD, ThD, MTh, ThM, DPhil, DMin, STD (bummer), and on and on. Needless to say, this looks like one big mess. Cooper spends an entire TWO CHAPTERS sorting each of these out, which is extremely interesting and helpful.
Finally, Part 4 introduces career prospects for (A) ministerial seminarians, and (B) academic ones. Although I fall into the latter category, I found the first section very illuminating, as it describes the process of ordination for the main denominations, and what it all entails. The second section helped introduce the steps of going on into PhD studies, understanding the costs, and more.
One of the very best highlights of this book is the style of writing Derek Cooper employs. It is a very non-technical work, and I managed to read the first 100 pages in one sitting, without even realizing it! I am a terribly slow reader, so this is a tremendous testimony to the author. The book is filled with helpful charts and tables, and nice highlight-bubbles on pages to emphasize key points.
The only complaint I can make about the book is that I would have like the same in-depth-treatment for doctrinal and theological positions of schools as there was for the different degree programs. One of the biggest challenges for me in studying schools and programs is getting a feel for the theological inclinations of this department or that. Dallas Theological Seminary is the pioneer in dispensationalism, Westminster Seminary California hammers out good little amillennialists, Yale in the 70's and 80's was big on narrative theology, etc. A catalogue of these types of things would have been the icing on the cake for this type of book.
All in all, however, I found "So You're Thinking About Going to Seminary" a very worthwhile read. I appreciated the insight that only an experienced insider's perspective could offer, all bundled in one easy package. I would recommend it to anyone at any stage in their theological education (even going into PhD studies), because each section is sort of a stand-alone reference.
Two thumbs up!

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I think I want to go to seminary, but is seminary right for me? What is seminary like? How do I figure out where to go? If you or someone you know or counsel is asking these questions, this book is for you. A true insider, Derek Cooper answers the questions of anyone considering or just starting seminary. He explains what seminary is, how to research and choose the right school, what the different degrees entail, how to pay for it, the meaning of different theological terms, and what to expect once you arrive. The only book of its kind, this engaging, insightful, and user-friendly guide will help prospective students make wise choices and beginning students overcome uncertainty as they begin this life-changing experience.EXCERPTTheological education has actually changed considerably over the past few decades from the traditional classroom full of men wearing ties and slacks to the contemporary classroom full of women and men dressed in shorts and sandals. Although there still are many traditional schools available to you--if that is your persuasion--it is not necessarily your parents' seminary any more. This is because seminary education has evolved like everything else with the changing culture in North America. Seminaries in the twenty-first century differ in many ways from seminaries of the twentieth-century--which is one reason why a guide to seminary is now necessary.

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