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Oxford to drop ‘sacra’

by
07 December 2012

December 6th, 1912.

THE University of Oxford is making haste, not to "speak gently of a sister's fall", but to take the plunge with her, and is determined not to be long after Cambridge in taking it. By an overwhelming majority Congregation affirmed on Tuesday the preambles of the new statutes throwing open to laymen of all beliefs or none examinerships and degrees in the Faculty of Sacred Theology. In each case the proposal was moved by the Warden of Keble, who found a warm supporter in the Regius Professor of Divinity, Dr Scott Holland. These two divines certainly had the courage of their convictions, and did not shrink from avowing their readiness to accept the results of the proposed new departure. A doctor's thesis, the Warden of Keble explained, would no longer be required to be in conformity with Christian theology, but might be on Buddhist Nirvana. He was ready, however, to admit that it would be only reasonable to drop the word sacra from the present official title of the faculty. Dr Scott Holland, eager that the study of theology should be "free", expressed his willingness to present for a Divinity Degree a Buddhist pundit. The President of St John's, we are glad to see, opposed the statutes, on the ground that they would complete not merely the unchurching but the dechristiani-zing of the University, and would further result before very long in throwing open the professorships to non-Christians. Professor Oman drew from the supporters of the motion the damaging admission that a thesis attempting to disprove the existence of God would be accepted for a theological degree. The last word, however, has not yet been said, and Convocation, perhaps, may reverse the judgment of Congregation.

 

 

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