[CS-FSLUG] Open Source politics of Re: Correspondence bible college [ OT ]

[Yama Ploskonka]

I don't know why I never sent this.  Been sitting in my "drafts" folder 
for over 2 months

dear beloved,
doc details some of the ugly side of academia, and he doesn't even enter
into mentioning simony or worse.
So let me.

I am appalled, chagrined, hurt by this whole buying and selling of the
fruit of the spirit.  While I might somewhat understand the craftsman
being paid for his labor, the whole 'thing' about diplomas, whether they
are worth anything, how much for a 'recognized' course (as he points
out, often more expensive if off the internet), etc...  This is
especially pathetic when we are talking about Bible studies, in which
(supposedly) we want to train/inspire others to carry on with the
Gospel.  Yet they become like the trafficking in the court of the Temple.

I read recently in a missions magazine a very solid article about the
whys and wherefores of getting or not a PhD if your plan is to be a
missionary overseas.  There was another one about the importance of
estate planning.  Hello??  you will not carry a cape or a staff, sure,
but pack your diploma and make sure your investments will vest for your
days in Florida.

If there were reasonable ways that all the effort creating those courses
and learning materials would go into the public domain at a good pace,
yes, OK, we pay somebody to prepare them, in good faith, and then we
spread them, libre like...

Oh well.

I better hit the sack, too late for me today,

blessings you all,

Yama


dmc wrote:
>  > http://www.amesbible.org/
> 
> As a former Christian college administrator I feel
> the need to raise a caution flag here.
> 
> There are many forms of what is called "accreditation",
> and their value varies widely.
> 
> Ames falls into the non-portable and unlikely to be
> recognized elsewhere category.
> 
> There are two well-recognized Christian accreditating
> agencies, ABHE (Association of Biblical Higher Education),
> and TRACS (Transnational Association of Christian Colleges
> and Schools).
> 
> There are secular regional accreditors as well.
> 
> All of these are themselves accredited by CHEA and they
> generally recognize the credits earned at fellow insitutions.
> 
> There are also insitutions like Seminary Extension and Horizon
> and others whose credits may be ACE reviewed for transfer to
> fully accredited colleges.
> 
> Depending on ones field of study and professional goals,
> and ones desire to leave doors open to future studies,
> one must take great care in selecting a college.
> 
> I would be happy to respond to questions on the list or
> via private E-mail if there is a desire to learn more.
> Much as I was bored to tears in the meetings and wrestling
> the forms I did learn a great deal about accreditation
> and course transfer and the value of accreditation in
> Christian and secular fields.
>