New Seminary Subject: Homemaking

[Amie]

New Seminary Subject: Homemaking

By ROSE FRENCH
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 9, 2007; 2:10 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers coursework in Greek and Hebrew, in archaeology, in the philosophy of religion and _ starting this fall _ in how to cook and sew.

One of the nation's largest Southern Baptist seminaries, the school is introducing a new, women-only academic program in homemaking _ a 23-hour concentration that counts toward a bachelor of arts degree in humanities. The program is aimed at helping establish what Southwestern's president calls biblical family and gender roles.

Coursework will include seven hours of nutrition and meal preparation, seven hours of textile design and "clothing construction," three hours of general homemaking, three hours on "the value of a child," and three hours on the "biblical model for the home and family."

Seminary officials say the main focus of the courses is on hospitality in the home _ teaching women interior design as well as how to sew and cook. Women also study children's spiritual, physical and emotional development.



Click here for the rest (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080900931.html?hpid=sec-religion)

[Paige]

From the article:


"Whether a woman works outside or strictly in the home, her first priority is her family and home," she said. "We just really want to step up and provide some of these skills."

How is that different than a man's priority? Do they have a seminary course (for men only) in how to mow a lawn and fix a roof? I have to say that the whole thing sounds rather odd, but beyond that, also fiscally unsound. Why would I want my kids (both male and female) to pay a university to teach them what I've already taught them for free? I may not have taught them to sew, but most people I know who sew don't do it for any financial advantage. They do it for pleasure, as it is much cheaper to pick a clothing item off the sales rack than it is to make it from scratch.

Paige

[jlv]

Paige,

Men go to seminaries to become preachers. Women might go to liberal seminaries to become preachers, but not to conservative ones. The women are going to college to find a preacher husband.

Classes in these topics are quite appropriate for the needs of their female students. They should also require a class titled "How to support your family, your husband, and his 'ministry' on secretary wages." That might shock some sense into these young women.

Oops, can't have that. They'd spend their education loans someplace else.

JL

[Amie]

JL,

Do you think a person could be a conservative Christian AND not be forced to define "good Christian woman" as a successful homemaker?

I do.

Amie

[Paige]

Men go to seminaries to become preachers. Women might go to liberal seminaries to become preachers, but not to conservative ones.

I think you're right there, because most "conservative" seminaries don't teach that women can/should be pastors/ministers/preachers (that I know of). This is where I believe that whole liberal/conservative thing comes into question. There are many women out there who don't believe their gender disqualifies them from any kind of service in ministry, yet would not label themselves politically liberal.

Paige

[jlv]

Do you think a person could be a conservative Christian AND not be forced to define "good Christian woman" as a successful homemaker?

Amie,

What you or I think is irrelevant to this seminary and most (if not all) of the churches that support it and hire their graduates. My oldest daughter has lined up a teaching position at such a seminary for next year.

No, she won't be teaching homemaking. My wife didn't teach her to sew and I didn't do a very good job teaching her to cook. I expect most of her students to be men. (The irony.)

But I do hope she marries (but not a preacher) and gives me lots of grandchildren. I'm into world domination, the biblical way.

JL

[Amie]

lol JL,

I'm glad that you hang out over here..