The desire to go to seminary isn't completely innocent. We can be tempted to a spiritual pride that comes from mistaking intellectual knowledge for spiritual maturity.
Great thoughts. Did you know in the RP church in Scotland, they actually don’t allow people to go to seminary without 5 years prior secular work experience? I’ve always liked that idea, not that we could pull it off.
PS you couldn’t get away from that three point format, could you? Haha
Ha, I didn't even think of that! The three points actually came from this YouTuber who gives advice for how to "talk to camera": https://www.lifestylefilmblog.com/cheat-sheet. But sure looks like seminary rubbing off!
I've heard about the RP thing even in the US, since my in-laws are at 2nd RP Indianapolis. It's always seemed like a better model.
Touche! As a Catholic, I've often felt that the high-school-to-seminary pipeline might be part of the reason why so many priests I've encountered seem so, well, dainty. They need to get their hands dirty in some real-life occupation (think of Jesus being a carpenter, Paul a tent maker. . .) to gain solidity and solidarity with their human flock--not that the flock is all that solid either, given that most people have desk jobs and, like priests, wear "white collars." But wouldn't it be nice if ministers and priests set the example themselves, maybe even followed the example of the Amish, most of whose ministers and bishops work as farmers alongside their fellow congregants?
Wow, a like and a comment from the Happy Householder himself! I agree - I didn't know about the "high-school-to-seminary pipeline." Any college in between?
At the same time, I'm impressed with the regimen that different Catholic priests and religious have to go through. The 11-year Jesuit process, with required service and philosophy degree is certainly more comprehensive than the Protestant M.Div.
But the idea that the clergy should know what life is like as a layperson is quite important. Of course, the Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers should have exactly this effect of flattening the clergy-laity distinction. That particular point was most fully carried out by the Radical Reformation, the Anabaptists - the Amish. Your vision is attractive - but I think it's actually Protestant! :)
It would be interesting to see how it happened that the typical diocesan priest keeps his collar "white." I imagine that in the first millennium of Christianity, priests may have had to scrounge to make a living just like anyone else, but this might be an idle supposition. The Benedictines certainly did until they became richer and more powerful and branched out into teaching. If I were Pope (they keep trying to recruit me but I keep telling them I like St. Louis too much) I would mandate a year or two as a car mechanic, plumber, carpenter, or gardener before letting students move on to theology.
Great thoughts. Did you know in the RP church in Scotland, they actually don’t allow people to go to seminary without 5 years prior secular work experience? I’ve always liked that idea, not that we could pull it off.
PS you couldn’t get away from that three point format, could you? Haha
Ha, I didn't even think of that! The three points actually came from this YouTuber who gives advice for how to "talk to camera": https://www.lifestylefilmblog.com/cheat-sheet. But sure looks like seminary rubbing off!
I've heard about the RP thing even in the US, since my in-laws are at 2nd RP Indianapolis. It's always seemed like a better model.
My in-laws actually go to southside RP here in Indy!
Touche! As a Catholic, I've often felt that the high-school-to-seminary pipeline might be part of the reason why so many priests I've encountered seem so, well, dainty. They need to get their hands dirty in some real-life occupation (think of Jesus being a carpenter, Paul a tent maker. . .) to gain solidity and solidarity with their human flock--not that the flock is all that solid either, given that most people have desk jobs and, like priests, wear "white collars." But wouldn't it be nice if ministers and priests set the example themselves, maybe even followed the example of the Amish, most of whose ministers and bishops work as farmers alongside their fellow congregants?
Wow, a like and a comment from the Happy Householder himself! I agree - I didn't know about the "high-school-to-seminary pipeline." Any college in between?
At the same time, I'm impressed with the regimen that different Catholic priests and religious have to go through. The 11-year Jesuit process, with required service and philosophy degree is certainly more comprehensive than the Protestant M.Div.
But the idea that the clergy should know what life is like as a layperson is quite important. Of course, the Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers should have exactly this effect of flattening the clergy-laity distinction. That particular point was most fully carried out by the Radical Reformation, the Anabaptists - the Amish. Your vision is attractive - but I think it's actually Protestant! :)
It would be interesting to see how it happened that the typical diocesan priest keeps his collar "white." I imagine that in the first millennium of Christianity, priests may have had to scrounge to make a living just like anyone else, but this might be an idle supposition. The Benedictines certainly did until they became richer and more powerful and branched out into teaching. If I were Pope (they keep trying to recruit me but I keep telling them I like St. Louis too much) I would mandate a year or two as a car mechanic, plumber, carpenter, or gardener before letting students move on to theology.