First Semester Done: The Ups, Downs, and Lessons

I thank the Lord of Heaven for this past semester. In all of its constant, independent, and hard work. In all of its rich, deep, gracious discussion. The professors at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary have taught me many things. I was introduced to the basic, general philosophical views like Theism, Deism, Materialism, and Postmodernism; I learned about philosophy's many components or fields of study, such as Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics. There were lectures on the many art movements throughout history and the way they shaped thinking. Things like rhetorical analysis, poetic evaluation, and worldview study were given in-depth looks. I was given many chances to discuss these things with those around me, which was an experience entirely new to me, thus providing an effective place to stretch and train my intellectual muscles inside as well as outside the classroom.

There has been an innumerable amount of blessing these past few months, but for brevity's sake I will select three to speak on. First, the atmosphere of the college I attend; it's perks, its mission/vision, and its professors. Second, the friendships that have formed. Third, the intellectual freedom that has been encouraged and enjoyed by not only myself but many of my colleagues as well.

The college. In Wake Forest, North Carolina, in a relatively small area in the greater-Raleigh area, lays a little series of buildings spanning about a mile in length. This is the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It is divided into two schools. The larger, more academically-rigorous school is the seminary. This school deals specifically with religious studies and doles out advanced degrees such as Masters, Doctorates, and other lesser-known degrees that deal with a specific ministry focus. This school holds around 4.5 thousand students in total, counting both on-campus students as well as online and international ones. Then, there is the college. The college is the smaller of the two institutions that holds roughly 400 students and gives degrees like Undergraduates and Associates. All in all, the school has a comparatively small amount of students currently attending. This means that the community is fairly intimate and little. A wonderful fact.

The school's mission statement is "Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission." This paints every aspect of college life at Southeastern. Everything we do, from eating, to learning, to engaging in the fullness of fellowship, is for the purpose of glorifying the God of the Christian Scriptures (1 Cor. 10:31). It is the highest form of living possible, and I am fortunate enough to get to live with people who are committed to that style of living.

The professors are of the highest quality as well. Not only are they excellent in each of their distinctive fields, they deeply care for both the spiritual as well as the mental development of their students, which, among college campuses today, doesn't seem normal. Also contrasted to the average college campus, Southeastern's professors have chosen to educate their students on the greatest thinkers throughout history, and how those thinkers' ideas have shaped our world (specifically the Western world). We are a school that grapples daily with issues of philosophy, social justice, and the pluralism that exists in our country at the moment. Overall, I am grateful for and indebted to my professors at Southeastern, and cannot wait to see what other frontiers we, professors and fellow students alike, will discover and map out in the future.

The community. The people I have met at Southeastern, the friendships I have formed, have been a (literal) answer to prayer. Most of the people I've met at Southeastern have been in love with God, and three guys especially have become my best friends. It is hard to describe how they have helped my development and success, of both the intuitive kind as well as the academic. I love them dearly and thank the Lord that he has blessed me with them. They are my slimes. There also exists a house system, similar to what is found in the Harry Potter series, in place within the college. Each one is named after a well-known, historical missionary (Liele, Schaeffer, Judson, and Fuller). I am in Judson house (woop woop!) and have been graciously accepted and lead by a lovely set of leaders.

The intellectual liberation I have undoubtedly experienced while at Southeastern has been pure ecstasy. Never have I been to a place such as this. In high school, this level of thinking was not pushed as necessary, most likely because we at Southeastern deal with existential issues that have to do with questions of religious belief and the nature of prime reality, which is something that public institutions, on the higher and lower levels, are seeming to increasingly discourage. Why is my school better than others in this regard? Well, let me show off a bit of what I've learned about worldviews and tell you.

The philosophical foundation, as was described before, of Southeastern, is the existence of God and the importance of glorifying Him in the world. The worldview of the faculty and the students (or at least a majority of them) is synonymous, providing a similar starting point for everyone. This is different from the secular school. There, everyone is potentially holding a different worldview, and so people come to radically different conclusions while in discussion and debate, and it all stems from the fact that they are racing on two different tracks. This causes major dysfunction in the long run, as recent political and social developments in America are proving. When you can interpret and filter the world through the same lens, however, as is the case at Southeastern, it allows for much deeper connection and discussion.

-AJR, 12/17/19