<p>I'm going to write my classics honors thesis on something having to do with early christian heresies---- I just find something intriguing about the philosophical and political sectarian disputes of antiquity. Anway, I thought that since I wasn't all that great at the classical languages, I could still do a PhD in religious studies. It turns out that the language requirements for a doctorate in religious studies are exactly the same for my area of study: Latin, Ancient Greek, French and German. </p>
<p>Is there some area of theology or religous studies that would not require a mastery of so many languages. Really, its Ancient Greek that's troubling me. I could handle more Latin if I absolutely had to, and I had a couple semesters of French and German in college for unrelated reasons and they weren't too bad. Should I give up on grad school completely unless I can get a firm grasp on my Greek?</p>
<p>In a related topic---- is there anyone here who has considered going to seminary to be a priest, minister, missionary, etc. and what kind of training in ancient languages do you generally need for that sort of thing?</p>
<p>Come on, Greek isn't <em>that</em> hard! Did you try to self study or take a class? And which textbook did you use? </p>
<p>Anyway, I don't think you'll find any reputable religious studies grad program that doesn't require the primary languages. And then there's Hebrew, Syriac, Coptic... </p>
<p>Seminary, I suspect, depends on the particular brand of Christianity you're into and the level of academic rigor you want. I would think that any serious Christian seminary would include at least a couple years of Greek - its too fundamental to the religion to avoid. YMMV, of course.</p>
<p>Granted, I'm still in the beginning stages of learning Greek---- I just finished my second semester. Please tell me that it gets easier/better as you go? And I was in a formal university class that used the 'Athenaze' series, books one and two, from Oxford UP ed. Balme and Lawall. This Fall we're supposed to read selections from the book of Acts and from Plato's Symposium.... I'm half-way looking forward to it, and half-way dreading it. </p>
<p>As far as religious studies graduate programs, I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never escape Greek and Latin. But if I <em>did</em> go that route, I would probably be studying early Christianity so I don't think I would be doing much in the way of Semitic languages. I did a token bit of research into Notre Dame's theology program, and as far as I could tell only the concentration in Judaic Studies required Hebrew, Syriac, etc.</p>
<p>Actually, I just finished my first year of Greek at Penn, but from what I can see, it does get easier. I happened to discover a guy named Lucian who is not only funny, but wrote in "pure" Attic Greek - so he's both fairly easy AND fun to read. So this summer, I've been reading some of his "dialogs" which are sort of little comic sketches between courtesans, or gods, or philosophers, etc. I'm also trying (mostly successfully) to re-read our text book (Hansen and Quinn) at a little more than a chapter a week (20 chapters total) - I carry around my vocab cards and so forth to review, just like I did during class. H&Q has self-tests every few chapters (with answers) so I can be sure I'm "getting it" as I review.</p>
<p>Hopefully, by fall, the basics will all be fairly solidly in mind.</p>
<p>Since you know what you'll be reading why not take a stab at Acts? Koine is very simple compared to full-bore Attic and there's plenty of online sources so you can easily print out a page to work on now and then. I guarantee it will improve your confidence!</p>
<p>And obviously, you should read The Symposium in English this summer as well.</p>
<p>if you're into heresies you'll definitely get dumped into the Syriac pool at some point! For example, I believe the only known copy of Nestorius' apologia is in Syriac.</p>
<p>Anyway, relax, practice some Greek, read some Plato and have a great summer!</p>
<p>As usual, WilliamC is absolutely right on. Just study your Greek, and stick with it. I also suggest dipping into Acts. It's really easy.</p>
<p>Most decent seminaries will only require either Hebrew or Koine Greek in order to earn an M.Div. I got mine with proficiency in Greek (Attic, Homeric, and Koine) and Latin and no Hebrew at all. </p>
<p>However, quite often, study in theology or in Christian Origins at the PhD level will require both Hebrew and Greek, and depending upon one's specific subspecialization, any other languages related to your study (including German and French for research purposes). Think about it: how can you write a decent exegesis of a passage in the NT without knowledge of the language of the Hebrew Scriptures?</p>
<p>At this time, you can certainly gain admission to a PhD program in Religious Studies or Theology with knowledge of only Greek and one research language (French or German). But you'll be expected to pass exams in your other research language (again, French or German) as well as to attain some proficiency in Hebrew before you're allowed to sit for comprehensive/qualifying exams.</p>
<p>But keep in mind -- even your exams will allow you to use a dictionary! </p>
<p>So again, I echo WilliamC. Relax. Study. And I love his Lucian suggestion, too.</p>
<p>
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Is there some area of theology or religous studies that would not require a mastery of so many languages.
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</p>
<p>If you are in Arkansas, then look into the Memphis Theological Seminary as well as the Harding Seminary. </p>
<p>The Memphis Theological Seminary lets you slide on your languages a wee bit. You can take, more like, lower divison languages over there and no one will mind you doing that. Ditto on the branch of Harding that we have over in Memphis, they are over in South East Memphis and they also let you slide a wee bit on languages. </p>
<p>However, William C. is soo smart.</p>
<p>I just wanted to give you two examples of schools, since you are in Arkansas. </p>
<p>(^_^)</p>
<p>However, I desperately want to get out of Arkansas.... I guess I should really buckle down and learn my Greek, eh?</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Man, you want to move out of Arkansas? Shucks! Arkansas is just one of the more prettier states out there. Of course, I have a bias, because half of my family tree is from Warren, originally. </p>
<p>At any rate, I was just trying to give you two examples that I know of for sure over in Memphis. </p>
<p>But, I do agree that you should just up and learn your Greek. Languages are lovely, and I am sure you could do a mix of self study as well as start up on some proper classes. </p>
<p>Good luck to you, herodotus53, I am sure everything will wind up working out okay.</p>
<p>It's not the geography--- I think the Ozarks are actually pretty nice, and I'm told that NW AR is better than the rest of the state. I believe that. I really just want more cultural and political diversity that comes with living in or near a larger city. And I don't care too much for sports or Greek life, either....</p>
<p>Fayetteville is okay, I don't think I would want to live here (or in this region) the rest of my life. Sorry.</p>
<p>I have heard that Memphis is a fun town, though, so I'll definitely look into the Memphis Theological Seminary. Thanks!</p>
<p>WilliamC, are you a classics major at Penn? I appreciate the advice. I do own a translation of The Symposium, so I'll definitely get started on that ASAP. Do you know of a particularly effective way to learn vocab? I've been making flashcards, and for the verbs I've listed all six principal parts. This is a lot of memorizing, but I get the feeling that it's somewhat inefficient. Am I just going to have to suck it up and do it? Is there no <em>easier</em> way to learn Greek? </p>
<p>I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't, though. If there were, I guess everyone would be majoring in Classics, right?</p>
<p>Yep. I''ll be graduating next year with 4 years of Latin and 2 of Greek, plus the other stuff. I'm shooting for grad school in Classical Archaeology.</p>
<p>Sadly, I don't think there's any better way to do elementary Greek that by memorizing the vocabulary. </p>
<p>I've made vocab. sheets for each of the H&Q chapters that I can print out. The English is on the left side with space to the right for the Greek. If I spend a few days with the cards, maybe 2 hours a day in 15 minute chunks, then I find that it takes about 8-10 runs through, writing the words out on the practice sheets before I have them solidly memorized. Also, for each chapter I'll FULLY write out all the forms of each verb (yes, it takes a while) at least once along with declining one (at least) of each type of noun.</p>
<p>It is a lot of work, but not that bad when you spread it over a week or so.</p>
<p>herodotus53 - you know what - you may be the only person in the whole history of the western world to say: </p>
<p>Ancient Greek - its my ticket outa this dump!</p>
<p>Good luck! and have a great summer!</p>
<p>My Greek professor once said that vocabulary covers a multitude a sins.</p>
<p>Review, Review, Review.</p>