I live in a town that is educated. Like it or not, America’s political capital and it’s surrounding area is, as the kids say, a “nerd party” of remarkable proportions. Many people in my neighborhood hold a degree from an institution of higher education (and usually a prestigious one at that). Having a doctorate myself, I have noticed the completely blasé attitude that my own academic status inspires for the typical Washingtonian. Then I learn that they have a doctoral degree as well.
Given this regional educational profile, I am always struck by the way that Christians in the Washington area often ignore theology as a topic worthy of higher education. Leaving aside for the moment the complaint that the tuition-investment in seminary does not pay off in a high-income job (I know far too many J.D.s working for think-tanks or teaching high school to believe that income is the main factor in pursuing graduate degree, not to mention that financial aid at my seminary is plentiful), we should consider several reasons for pursuing graduate theological study.
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