Hi There! How Far From Wake Forest To North Raleigh? (Trinity: condo, chapel)

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by jasmineb2

Leigh - before we considered NC as a place to move - we considered going back home and to Seminary in Aberdeen!!! Don't know what your sister thought about it, but my memories of Aberdeen on the 2 visits that I've made there, are of very friendly people but miserable weather!!!!! And it's bitter cold too!!! I reckon the NC climate would suit us a lot better! Re the Seminary - interesting to hear other people's perspective - my husband would be studying only part time there - we have our own internet business so would not be isolated just within the Seminary. Really lookiing foward to visiting. Have a feeling we'll be falling in love with the place!

Have you done much research about the place and it's stance on things? I mean....well....it's very insular....to say the least. The Seminary very much keeps to itself except when it tries to force the town into rezoning areas around it for what it wants. It isn't so much the classic 'town and gown' scenario...it's....well.....they are Fundamentalist Southern Baptists and don't approve pretty much of anyone else. There have fired many popular professors in the past few years for not being strict enough or teaching the party line exactly.

They don't even let their student attend the Baptist church that stands on their grounds (church and seminary have always been separated from the time the actual Wake Forest University left Wake Forest and moved to Winston-Salem and sold the property to the Southeastern Baptist Seminary).

I would assume if you are going there that this is what you want.

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by leighbhe

The feeling I get is that the seminary is conservative, biblically conservative and they want their students/families to be the same. It seems (based on what I have heard) that they take a more fundamental approach than let's say a divinity program. So, that can be isolating within a community that may not be as conservative. I don't live near downtown, so I cannot speak for the climate in that area. I always see people with their kids walking around the historic areas and the downtown area, so obviously people are out and about.

Leigh

I live near downtown....so, yes, it's great that you do see lots of folks walking around...but it certainly isn't all seminary students and their families!

[leighbhe]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

Have you done much research about the place and it's stance on things? I mean....well....it's very insular....to say the least. The Seminary very much keeps to itself except when it tries to force the town into rezoning areas around it for what it wants. It isn't so much the classic 'town and gown' scenario...it's....well.....they are Fundamentalist Southern Baptists and don't approve pretty much of anyone else. There have fired many popular professors in the past few years for not being strict enough or teaching the party line exactly.

They don't even let their student attend the Baptist church that stands on their grounds (church and seminary have always been separated from the time the actual Wake Forest University left Wake Forest and moved to Winston-Salem and sold the property to the Southeastern Baptist Seminary).

I would assume if you are going there that this is what you want.

It is interesting to hear about the seminary, because I have the same feelings, hard to put your finger on it. I have a friend who went to a restaurant that was newly opened in downtown and the owner told him that the seminary "people" basically told him they did not approve of alcohol sales at the bar/restaurant and that they would boycott the establishment if he sold alcohol there.

So, it is an interesting dynamic to say the least. Very fundamental is quite right based on what I have heard.

Leigh

[jasmineb2]

Thanks for the info re the Seminary. Actually, we have had our reservations lets say about the place - my feeling about what I had learned about it before these posts was that it was quite a strict and maybe not all accepting towards others outside of it's domain. Was hoping I was being a bit too sceptical - but doesn't sound like it! Interesting Desdemona that you mention that it''s not the typical 'town and gown' scenario - that's more what I had in mind. Isolation is never a good thing - and not healthy as far as religious organizations go. And dictating where one can and can't go to church/school and boycotting restaurant!!!!! It'll certainly be interesting to get down there and really check it out. I so appreciate your views. I'd be interested in hearing what anyone else has to say about this. Thanks guys.

[jkmeca11]

??? I am a Catholic and always very interested in other branches of Christianity and other religions all together. Can someone explain what exactly the seminary is? I pass it every Sunday on my way to St Catherine's. When I hear seminary I think of a place where catholic priests-to-be go to study.

[jasmineb2]

Yes the word Seminary is indeed usually associated with training of priests/pastors - depending on the Seminary, many go on to become Pastors but others go on to missions and teaching. My husband is interested in teaching Theology at University/Seminary level What do you know about the perception of the Seminary by the town and it seems it's keeping at a distance those who don't follow it's biblical principles. I know everyone has their own belief system, whether they're Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, whatever - but at the alienation of others - can't think that's a good thing. Thoughts anyone?

[jkmeca11]

Originally Posted by jasmineb2

What do you know about the perception of the Seminary by the town and it seems it's keeping at a distance those who don't follow it's biblical principles.

I live in Youngsville which is in Franklin County about 6 miles or so East of Wake Forest, so I would not be a good judge of the local perception of the Seminary. Altough, my family and I do a lot of shopping in Wake Forest and think it is a lovely town, good luck!!

[MrsSteel]

I've heard the word "seminary" used to describe non-Catholic institutions. When my father refers to his years training to be a minister (Disciples of Christ), he talks about his years at the seminary. So did my grandfather (although his alma matter now refers to the department as the university's "Divinity School"). And I know people who attended Oral Roberts University, which sometimes refers to its department of Theology as a seminary. I would not be at all surprised if the term originally refered strictly to institutions that trained preists, but it appears that the language has changed over time & is now tied to multiple Christian religious training institutions.

[jasmineb2]

Thands - am really looking forward to visiting - sounds like there's a lot of other really interesting neighbourhoods to visit.

[jasmineb2]

Yes Mrs Steel you're right. According to Wikipedia the definition of Seminary is: A seminary or theological college is a specialized and often live-in higher education 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 English word is taken from the Latin seminarium, translated as seed-bed. In the Occident, the term historically refers to Christian educational institutes for clergy (mostly Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, as many Protestant denominations preferred another term for their theological colleges), but in modern usage has also come to be used to refer to Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other religious centres of higher education for religious professionals and laity.So now we know!!!