Do Christians risk losing their faith at University?

[Caliban]

Members of the National Academy of Science are far more likely to withhold belief in the supernatural than the general population. Science majors in general lack belief more than the general population.

Biblical and New Testament scholars do not often hold conservative theological beliefs such as inerrancy. This often impacts scholarly views of the miraculous claims of the Bible and its broader supernatural claims. If a deeper analysis of the text leads to the liberalization of theological belief or secularity, should Christians pursue doctoral degrees in biblical scholarship?


According to this data trend, should conservative Christians pursue advanced degrees (Masters and Doctorates)?

 

[Radagast]

Members of the National Academy of Science are far more likely to withhold belief in the supernatural than the general population. Science majors in general lack belief more than the general population.

Even among scientists, atheists are a minority, however, with 51% believing in some form of God or Higher Power.

Biblical and New Testament scholars do not often hold conservative theological beliefs such as inerrancy.

The majority of Biblical and New Testament scholars do hold conservative theological beliefs, however.

If a deeper analysis of the text leads to the liberalization of theological belief or secularity

It does not. That's a ridiculous suggestion.

 

[hedrick]

The data is complex. You should look at this Gallup report: In America, Does More Education Equal Less Religion?

One thing to note is that most grad students in the sciences are foreign, usually from countries that aren't highly Christian. This makes cause and effect harder to see than you might expect.

The views of Biblical scholars are strongly split depending upon the type of school. Most scientists are probably trained in non-religious institutions. Biblical scholars there would generally not be conservative. There are, of course, plenty of religious colleges and Bible colleges. Depending upon denomination and relationship to the church, faculty there might well be conservative.

Deeper study of the Bible in a conservative environment might well support the conservative viewpoint. In a non-conservative environment, not.

 

[Caliban]

Even among scientists, atheists are a minority, however.

The majority of Biblical and New Testament scholars do hold conservative theological beliefs, however.



It does not.

I didn't mention Atheists in my post. I referred to the top scientists in the National Academy of Sciences as withholding supernatural claims. A person may have no religious belief and still not identify as an atheist.

I don't know what you mean by conservative theological beliefs since that would change from tradition to tradition. I references inerrancy as an example. Clearly most scholars currently publishing tin the field of New Testament scholarship do not hold to inerrancy.

 

[Caliban]

The data is complex. You should look at this Gallup report: In America, Does More Education Equal Less Religion?

One thing to note is that most grad students in the sciences are foreign, usually from countries that aren't highly Christian. This makes cause and effect harder to see than you might expect.

The views of Biblical scholars are strongly split depending upon the type of school. Most scientists are probably trained in non-religious institutions. Biblical scholars there would generally not be conservative. There are, of course, plenty of religious colleges and Bible colleges. Depending upon denomination and relationship to the church, faculty there might well be conservative.

Those are great points. I found one study that suggests students do not lose their religious belief in college. However, when receiving advanced degrees in certain subjects, such as science and New Testament, those religious beliefs become less conservative and more liberal.

 

[hedrick]

I don't know what you mean by conservative theological beliefs since that would change from tradition to tradition. I references inerrancy as an example. Clearly most scholars currently publishing tin the field of New Testament scholarship do not hold to inerrancy.

Are you sure? It may depend upon the publications you look at. There are plenty of Bible colleges with conservative faculty. I'd bet they publish somewhere.

 

[Caliban]

Are you sure? It may depend upon the publications you look at. There are plenty of Bible colleges with conservative faculty. I'd bet they publish somewhere.

Yes, those professors publish, but they publish works that focus on textual analysis or historical reference. It is similar to scientists who are religious, their published works do not engage in theology or the supernatural.

 

[hedrick]

Those are great points. I found one study that suggests students do not lose their religious belief in college. However, when receiving advanced degrees in certain subjects, such as science and New Testament, those religious beliefs become less conservative and more liberal.

To study that question you'd need to look at beliefs before and after education. If you only look at beliefs after education, conclusions would only be valid if scientists and non-scientists started college with the same views. That is very unlikely. It's probably unlikely even for US citizens, but it's absurd for the actual US scientific population.

 

[Caliban]

To study that question you'd need to look at beliefs before and after education. If you only look at beliefs after education, conclusions would only be valid if scientists and non-scientists started college with the same views. That is very unlikely. It's probably unlikely even for US citizens, but it's absurd for the actual US scientific population.

The previous Pew Survey I cited did look at religious beliefs of students entering and exiting university. They found no significant change in their theistic belief. They did not study however, if their beliefs liberalized or not.

 

[Radagast]

I references inerrancy as an example. Clearly most scholars currently publishing tin the field of New Testament scholarship do not hold to inerrancy.

Actually, most scholars currently publishing in the field of New Testament scholarship would indeed hold to inerrancy.

Are you sure? It may depend upon the publications you look at. There are plenty of Bible colleges with conservative faculty. I'd bet they publish somewhere.

Exactly.

 

[Albion]

According to this data trend, should conservative Christians pursue advanced degrees (Masters and Doctorates)?

It's probably at the undergraduate level that the danger is greatest, not at the graduate level.

That said, parents and students ought to research the reputations and histories of the various universities that are under consideration.

 

[Caliban]

Actually, most scholars currently publishing in the field of New Testament scholarship would indeed hold to inerrancy.

I think you are thinking of more popular writings--books you might find in a book store. I am talking about scholarly works published in peer reviewed journals or in presses like WM.B. Eerdmans or Oxford University Press. These are often not available in bookstores or on popular sites such as Amazon.

 

[Caliban]

It's probably at the undergraduate level that the danger is greatest, not at the graduate level.

That said, parents and students ought to research the reputations and histories of the various universities that are under consideration.

What should they research them for? What might discourage one from attending a particular school?

 

[hedrick]

This paper http://religion.ssrc.org/reforum/Regnerus_Uecker.pdf argues that simply being g a young adult involves you in rethinking your beliefs, and those who don’t go to college are at least as likely to lose faith. High school students are very likely to go to church and say they are Christian if their parents are. When they get out of the house, this often changes. Whether they go to college or not.

 

[Radagast]

I think you are thinking of more popular writings

Try not to be so patronising.

I am talking about scholarly works published in peer reviewed journals

As am I, and I'm probably more familiar with the literature than you are.

 

[Albion]

What should they research them for? What might discourage one from attending a particular school?

It is possible to find information on any college's political slant, that of the professors, and also the policies that are in effect concerning free speech or the lack of it, etc.

Also, it is possible to ascertain what published codes of conduct apply to students, which student clubs are on campus, and other such information. A look at the courses of study that the institution offers also tells a lot about the school.

 

[Caliban]

Try not to be so patronising.



As am I, and I'm probably more familiar with the literature than you are.

You might be more familiar with the literature than I am--assuming you have advanced degrees in textual analysis, Greek, and Religious Studies.

 

[Radagast]

This paper http://religion.ssrc.org/reforum/Regnerus_Uecker.pdf argues that simply being g a young adult involves you in rethinking your beliefs, and those who don’t go to college are at least as likely to lose faith.

Going to college for the first time, a young person with "fuzzy" beliefs often meets a clearly articulated alternative. That can trigger a rethink.

High school students are very likely to go to church and say they are Christian if their parents are. When they get out of the house, this often changes. Whether they go to college or not.

Indeed; that is very noticeable in the census data.

 

[Sketcher]

Biblical and New Testament scholars do not often hold conservative theological beliefs such as inerrancy. This often impacts scholarly views of the miraculous claims of the Bible and its broader supernatural claims. If a deeper analysis of the text leads to the liberalization of theological belief or secularity, should Christians pursue doctoral degrees in biblical scholarship?

I don't believe that deeper analysis of the text leads to liberalization or secular beliefs, but if people are taught to believe that it should, it can be a problem. My solution: Don't go to a liberal institution for your postgraduate Biblical studies.

 

[Caliban]

It is possible to find information on any college's political slant, that of the professors, and also the policies that are in effect concerning free speech or the lack of it, etc.

Also, it is possible to ascertain what published codes of conduct apply to students, which student clubs are on campus, and other such information. A look at the courses of study that the institution offers also tells a lot about the school.

Do you think it is important to choose a school based on the likelihood a student will maintain their religious beliefs?