Cambridge Theological Seminary

{{christianity}}[[File:Kings College Cambridge Great Court Panorama.jpg|thumb|center|500px|The real King's College: Accept no substitutes!]]

'''Cambridge Theological Seminary''' was a [[green ink|{{gi|green ink}}]] [[webshite]] pretending to be an institute of higher education. The site blatantly advertised a link to {{wpl|King's College, Cambridge}} despite being a rather obvious collection of incoherent ravings by a [[fundamentalist]] [[insanity|madman]]. The site exhibited a stereotypical presentation of virtually every extreme fundamentalist belief, including [[homophobia]], [[transphobia]], [[creationism]], [[Biblical literalism]] and other [[far-right]] [[bullshit]] in an annoying stew of [[Time Cube|web markup abuse]]. Despite ripping off the name and image of the real Cambridge, they bizarrely condemned everything about their namesake.<ref name=seminary>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190418113924/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/WELCOME.html Cambridge Theological Seminary International,] Archived from the original at ministers-best-friend.com.</ref>

The site appeared to be the creation of a person "known by the web name of NewtonStein," who claimed that he was pastor of a church with over five thousand members and missionary to over fifty nations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190418113924/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/WELCOME.html ALL ABOUT US, "WELCOME!" To Cambridge Theological Seminary International]. Archived from the original at ministers-best-friend.com.{{quotebox|BIBLE CHURCHES UNITED FOR CHRIST! (BCUFC) is the ministry of one man, known by the web name of NewtonStein, the son and grandson of ministers, and himself a minister for 50+ years, as evangelist, pastor of a local Church with 5,584 members, missionary to 50 + nations on all major continents, and now in retirement, internet ministry.}}</ref> There is no evidence that this church, its ministry, or anything else claimed by the author ever existed.

==Pseudo-academics==

The site is completely void of academic material. Instead, they sell an alphabet soup of worthless "free"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190730115848/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/FREE-Ordination-and-Honorary-Degrees-Masters-and-Doctorate-by-Newtonstein.html FREE Ordination and Honorary Degrees.] Archived from the original at ministers-best-friend.com.</ref><ref>David Kowalski, [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2794-name-it-and-frame-it-phony-doctorates-in-the-church “Name it and Frame it” — Phony Doctorates in the Church.] apologeticsindex.org. {{blockquote|“Cambridge Theological Seminary,” also offers “free” doctorates” but if one wishes to have an actual diploma, fees will be assessed, including ones for “transcripted application,” “permanent records,” and “state-approved institutional registration.”}}</ref> "degrees," including but not limited to "Bachelor of Divinity", "BSc in [[Creation science|Creation Science]]", "ThB, Biblical Theology" and "DCC, Doctor of Christian Counseling". One qualifies for a degree by checking off boxes on a rambling, incoherent questionnaire that evaluates the candidate's "Christian Life Experience."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190731113849/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/FREE-Ordination-and-Honorary-Degrees-APPLICATION-PACKET-by-Newtonstein.html ™Cambridge Theological Seminary (USA & Global) "Doctoral Degree" Application Packet]. Archived from the original at ministers-best-friend.com.</ref> These degrees, like those offered by [[Patriot Bible University]], have no use outside a ministerial setting, and do not transfer to any actual college or seminary or other fundie schools.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190914003155/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/Programs-at-Cambridge-Theological-Seminary.html Programs at Cambridge Theological Seminary.] Archived from the original at ministers-best-friend.com.</ref><ref>[http://www.patrickcomerford.com/2010/07/what-is-degree-from-cambridge.html What is a degree from Cambridge Theological Seminary worth?] Spoiler: Nothing. patrickcomerford.com, 29 July 2010.</ref>

==Pseudo-accreditation==

{{cquote|Our goal is NOT to try to turn all Bible Schools into "Ivy-League-Ivory-Tower" bastions of Prestige-&-[[pervert|Perversion]] - rejecting Christ and embracing religious pluralism and [[homosexuality]] - instead of Christ and His Word!|||The accreditation standards of the International Agency of Independent Accreditation<ref name=accreditation />}}

Cambridge Theological Seminary claimed [[Academic accreditation|accreditation]] from the International Agency of Independent Accreditation, an entity that they [[PIDOOMA|fabricated]]. They [[lie|claimed]] that this entity accredited [[Hyles-Anderson College]], [[Bob Jones University]], and [[Liberty University]], among others.<ref name=accreditation>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190701132018/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/IAIA-Accreditation-Standards-APPLICATION.html IAIA Accreditation.] Archived from the original at ministers-best-friend.com.</ref> None of these institutions claim accreditation from Cambridge's imaginary agency, because they are not lying about their [[Academic accreditation|accreditation status]]. Lying about another person or group is supposed to be sinful. This Bible verse makes it perfectly clear:

{{cquote|Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. |||Exodus 20:16}}

==Pseudo-seminary==

Cambridge Theological Seminary had a highly distorted view on what a seminary actually is. They have a rabid hatred for traditional seminaries and bible colleges, and they claim that seminaries are not "scriptural". They claim that because seminaries are not mentioned in the [[Bible]] and are not controlled by local churches, they are [[evil]]. These viewpoints are not surprising, as Cambridge is a diploma mill operated by scam artists and religious fanatics. 

{{blockquote|PHILOSOPHY ONE: CTSI is a Philosophy of Educating and Training "God Called" Ministers, that focuses on "LOCAL CHURCHES" acting as the Seminaries! 

NOTE! "Seminary is NOT is Scriptural word - the modern-type seminary concept was developed hundreds of years after Jesus, IS NOT SCRIPTURAL AT ALL IN MODERN CONCEPT, and we ONLY use the term "seminary" because it "communicates" the concept of training Ministers. 

FACT! Jesus ONLY established the CHURCH! Thus the LOCAL CHURCH is the SOURCE of all MINISTRY! No Minister has any authority to establish any type Ministry OUTSIDE the local Church and their authority! 

FACT! Most modern seminaries are established like secular colleges, where Ministerial students are TAKEN AWAY from the local Church, and away from LOCAL CHURCH Ministry, and are NOT SCRIPTURAL! 

FACT! Jesus did NOT establish "seminaries" as separate ministries, established like secular colleges, NOT UNDER AUTHORITY to a local Church: thus NONE of them are Scriptural! 

FACT! All modern seminaries (and Bible Colleges) established and/or organized separately and NOT UNDER AUTHORITY to a local Church, and the LOCAL CHURCH ELDERS are NOT Scriptural! 

FACT! All modern seminaries NOT owned, operated by, controlled and administered by a local Church, Pastor, Elders and Deacons are NOT Scriptural! 

FACT! All modern seminaries established like secular colleges, with separate campuses, boards, incorporation papers and/or constitutions etc., thus NOT UNDER AUTHORITY to a local Church, are NOT Scriptural! 

THUS CTSI is NOT a campus, a corporation, a separate organization, or specific educational institution at all - EXCEPT - AS IT IS LOCAL CHURCHES . . . ALL OVER THE WORLD!<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120511041521/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/WELCOME.html More blather] archived from the original at  ministers-best-friend.com.</ref>}}

Many seminaries are bringing master's degrees online. Most seminaries are set up like corporations to follow the law and to obtain accreditation that require the institutions be incorporated and recognized by the state or local jurisdiction.<ref>[https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs] at the United States Department of Education.</ref> Accreditation agencies are independent of the government. That is why the Association of Theological Schools, the Association of Biblical Higher Education and [[TRACS]] exist—they are legit accreditation agencies and independent of the government. Many independent Baptist ministers and church staff have degrees from accredited Bible colleges and seminaries, many of which are recognized by local churches. There are ministerial training programs offered by local churches for ordination as a pastor. If the Bible and church related topics are taught from the perspective of a denomination, what is the actual problem? If you are strong enough in your faith, you would not have to worry if someone gets a secular education.

==Politics==

To round out the crazy factor, the site dedicated a page to [[Sarah Palin]], who was responsible in many ways for dooming [[John McCain]]'s [[2008 U.S. presidential election|presidential campaign in 2008]]. The page mixes an incredible amount of Palin [[clickbait]] with an astounding assortment of racist, conspiratorial screeds aimed at [[Barack Obama]] and the usual assortment of links to fake divinity degrees and other evangelical nonsense.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181108210609/http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/Sarah-Palin-Files.html A "PRO-PALIN PRESIDENTIAL" Site The "QUEEN" is the "KING MAKER!" PRO-USA TEA PARTY UNITED™ "REAGAN REPUBLICANS!" "PALIN NATION!"] Archived from the original at  ministers-best-friend.com.</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Fundie schools]]
[[Category:Green ink]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Webshites]]

Categories: Creationism, Fundie schools, Green ink, Homophobia, Webshites