I wish that there were more Eastern Orthodox Colleges in America

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith

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~Anastasia~

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Colleges would be nice, as would schools for children. I know of only one (there are probably more but my point is that they are rare).

That's something I would have liked to get involved in.

But I'm with you on the college too.
 
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devin553344

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Jude1:3Contendforthefaith

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I think the whole idea of Christian colleges is overrated. There isn't a Christian mathematics, all truth is God's truth.

"Orthodox" Christian Theology absolutely matters.

Sure, I could get basic Christian History and Basic Christian Theology / Biblical Studies other places, but I want Specifically Orthodox Theology and to be specifically in an Eastern Orthodox Christian setting and around other Orthodox Christians.
 
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TheLostCoin

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I think the whole idea of Christian colleges is overrated. There isn't a Christian mathematics, all truth is God's truth.

I know, right? Cambridge should have never been founded by monks of the Catholic Church!

Aside from the fact that many prestigious universities like Cambridge were established by monks, academic institutions today have a tendency to proclaim a non falsifiable claim, like the universe is the result of infinite Big Bangs; nations, gender, and hierarchies are purely constructed; the United Nations is responsible for the decrease in warfare; anything supernatural can’t possible be believed in, etc., and then these claims become echoed in a non-falsifiable echo-chamber, and if anybody proclaims anything heretical to dogmas such as these, they are ostracized, flunked or given a lower grade, maybe even get kicked out.

Thus universities, in different areas (not all) become ideological self confirmation for their own biases rather than an objective search for Truth.
 
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peregrinus2017

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Is it a problem to go to somewhere like St. Tikhon's or St. Vladimir's to study Orthodox theology without the intention or desire to enter the priesthood? I would think that the environment of such a place would be beneficial as theology needs to be lived and practiced as much as studied.
 
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ArmyMatt

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Is it a problem to go to somewhere like St. Tikhon's or St. Vladimir's to study Orthodox theology without the intention or desire to enter the priesthood? I would think that the environment of such a place would be beneficial as theology needs to be lived and practiced as much as studied.

nope, there are plenty of deacons and laity who have come from both seminaries.
 
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Jude1:3Contendforthefaith

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Is it a problem to go to somewhere like St. Tikhon's or St. Vladimir's to study Orthodox theology without the intention or desire to enter the priesthood? I would think that the environment of such a place would be beneficial as theology needs to be lived and practiced as much as studied.

I was thinking about this earlier. It would be great to go even if I never became a priest.
 
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GoingByzantine

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There is a notion that you can't be an academic and also be a Christian, but this notion is a false one. It only seems real because we as a society have allowed politics and political ideologies into our educational systems. In theory, every society has done this, but lately it seems more unbearable then in the past.

There is nothing wrong with seminaries, but yes, there should also be academic institutions that are rooted in the Orthodox Christian faith. We cannot pretend as though academic minds hold no value in our faith, when there have been plenty of examples to the contrary. Look at saints like Photios the Great, John of Damascus for instance. Students who do not feel called to the life of a religious vocation should still be able to pursue other career paths in a positive spiritual atmosphere, where Christ is King. They shouldn't have to go to secular universities to learn fields like math or science if they do not want to.
 
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ArmyMatt

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I was thinking about this earlier. It would be great to go even if I never became a priest.

you can. as an example, the current Assistant to the Dean for Academic Affairs at St Tikhon's, Dr Paul Witek, is a STOTS grad and a subdeacon.

St Vlad's is the same. as another example, Dr Greg Abdallah is a layman and a SVOTS grad.
 
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~Anastasia~

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We host a seminarian every year during Holy Week to chant the services, shadow the priest, and so on.

For the last two years we have hosted two young ladies. Not technically "seminarians" I guess (of course they won't be priests) but both attending Holy Cross.
 
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Newtheran

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I'm not talking about Orthodox "Seminaries". I wish there were more regular Orthodox Universities for Orthodox Christians to attend and study Orthodox Theology.

I think the only one is The University of Saint Katherine in California : Homepage - University of Saint Katherine

List of Eastern Orthodox universities and colleges in the United States - Wikipedia

To be honest, the history of Christian colleges and universities in North America has been quite dismal. It's almost gotten to the point where it's only a matter of time before these institution descend into apostasy, often infecting and harming the church bodies with which they are affiliated. Perhaps it's not having Orthodox Universities that has helped shelter the Orthodox Church from some of the cultural contamination that has taken down so many other Christian organizations.

Perhaps this would help?

Orthodox Christian Fellowship
 
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