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A seminary is a specialized and usually live-in university-like institution for the purpose of instructing students (seminarians) in philosophy, theology, spirituality and the religious life, usually in order to prepare them to become members of the clergy. The word is taken from the Latin seminarium, translated as seed-bed. The term seminary usually, though not always, applies to Christian and Jewish education for clergy.
History of Seminaries
The establishment of modern seminary institutions was a direct result of Roman Catholic reforms of the Counter-Reformation after the Council of Trent which insisted on the improvement of the education of clergy through the creation of seminaries as live-in instutions under the direct control of senior clergy. This later led, when literacy was not universal, to the creation of minor seminaries to educate young boys for the priesthood. The Tridentine model of seminary was one of a live in, almost monastic community where lifestyle and prayer habits were carefully monitored and corrected as a means to reforming pre-Reformation abuses among the clergy. The seminary institutions were in contrast to the freer intellectual atmosphere of the Universities. The tridentine seminaries placed great emphasis on personal discipline as well as the teaching of philosophy as a preparation for theology; an approach that was explicitly rejected by Protestant reformers such as John Calvin.
The Tridentine model of seminary has since been adopted and adapted by other Christian denominations as well as by modern American Judaism, though now in a more open fashion than the Tridentine model, and often without the Catholic emphasis on the pre-requisite study of philosophy and the Catholic requirement to live on campus within the Christian community of the seminary.
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The White witch sat next to two librarians from theological colleges today
jwebbery (Jo Webb) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:27:05 -0000
The White witch sat next to two librarians from theological colleges today
Cambridge Theological Federation - Offers courses in Christian ministry and service. Includes a history of the federation, course profiles and details of constituent institutes and centres.
Meta Description: [ The Cambridge Theological Federation is a collection of theological training colleges based in Cambridge in the UK ]
Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies - (Orthodox) Details of programmes and courses, staff list, newsletters [PDF], and information about research.
Meta Description: [ The IOCS provides University courses, continued education, and advanced research in the field of Orthodox Christianity ]
Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology - (Roman Catholic women) Information about courses, and brief staff biographies.
Ridley Hall - Anglican - Provides details of the training available, together with information about life and worship in the college.
Meta Description: [ Welcome to Ridley Hall - a Church of England theological ordination training college based in Cambridge, England. We believe that we are called to be a deep learning resource for the whole church to equip God's people to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to our world. ]
Wesley House - Methodist - Includes a mission statement, information about the training provided, details of the academic staff, and a brief history of the college.
Meta Description: [ Wesley House is a Methodist theological training college based in Cambridge, UK ]
Westcott House - Anglican - Provides details of community life, ordination training, history of the college, and its conference facilities.
Meta Description: [ Westcott House is a Church of England theological college based in the university city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom ]
Westminster College - United Reformed Church - Includes college history, information about the academic staff, and details of conference facilities.
| St.Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College-Melbourne-Australia. | |
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