I found it again at last! Page 156 - 157 of *My Soul to…
““I found it again at last! Page 156 - 157 of *My Soul to Keep* by Melanie Wells. Dr. Dylan Foster is thinking to herself while searching through literature on snake lore, "Then there was all the mystical stuff. Once again, the dearth of comparative religion in my theology training nearly skunked me. Four years of sod-busing in seminary had taught me exactly nothing more than what I already knew--in grander proportions, of course, and to near-microscopic levels of minutia. In the end, I got out of there with a solid hermeneutical method, an encyclopedic understanding of dispensational theology, and the ability to conjugate verbs and deconstruct participles in Greek and Hebrew--all notable skills--but without even passable knowledge of anything outside one extremely narrow strip of theological territory." "When it was all said and done, I'd spent four years and trainload of money to get indoctrinated, not educated. Lousy planning, if you ask me.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Four years of narrow theological training left the author feeling indoctrinated rather than educated.
In simple terms: Specialized study can limit broader understanding.
Key Takeaway
Seek diverse learning experiences.
Themes
education
theology
specialization
knowledge
critique
Mood
reflective
frustrated
Type
Books:1
Comparative religion:0
Judaism:0
Religion:0
Spirituality:0
Theological:0
Theology Ability:0
Solid Hermeneutical:0
Theology Training:0
When to use this quote
- seminary studies
- religious education
- personal development
Key Concepts
hermeneutics
disciplinary breadth
intellectual humility
Questions to Reflect On
- What value does broad study add to specialized fields?
- How can one balance depth with breadth?
A Different Perspective
Narrow focus may hinder interdisciplinary insight.