Really, MidwestStudent gets insulted, told he is learning nothing in Seminary that God has not taught others through "meditation" (??), and you bash him? There really is a mindset, which I have encountered constantly in this forum that being educated somehow interferes with your relationship with God.
Besides the things which Student mentioned, the biggest thing that seminary did for me, was totally transform my relationship with God. Now, I had always heard from God and was close to hima. I had studied the Bible extensively before going to Seminary. But in no way did my personal studies even come close to the things God taught me through the professors at seminary. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit uses people, books, other students, etc, etc to help us grow in the Lord.
I have always encouraged people who can, to go to seminary which, by the way, is far different that a few years at Bible College. Seminary is a Master's degree level, and the professors I had all had to have Ph.D's, because the governing bodies required it, with good reason. All of my professors were former missionaries and pastors. They had spent a minimum of 10 years on the mission field, in various countries leading people to the Lord. Bible college is more like undergrad studies. Not quite the same.
Anyway, I really do get a bit miffed at the attitudes of many people to those who are spending an incredible amount of time and money, TO FOLLOW THE LEADING OF GOD! The students I met in Seminary, were dedicated and called by God. They are now in the mission field, pastoring in small towns, planting churches. And pretty much all of those students had other jobs and careers including advanced secular degrees, which they left behind to follow God.
Anyway, further to my last post, I actually said that what I saw of Logos doesn't compare to the books and things I learned at Seminary. I know some of my tech savy profs used it, but it was just too expensive for me to justify buying, even if I was a full time pastor, which I am not, because of my health issues.
Oh yes, one important thing seminary also taught me was how to evaluate false doctrine in context of Scripture. There are quite a few people on this thread alone who, just by the few postings I have seen them make, have been totally led astray by false teachers.
Too many people who think looking something up in Strong's qualifies them as a master of Greek or Hebrew. And I am talking about internet preachers who do NOT have a clue about sound doctrine.
"must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." Titus 1:9
"preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Tim. 2:2-4