Maranatha Baptist University

Date: May 31 2008
Major: Religion/Religious (This Major's Salary over time)
You have to realize when considering Maranatha that it is best qualified for its stated goals of preparing individuals for service in conservative, fundamentalist churches. When it comes to real world preparation or exposure to broad ideas, Maranatha is not the best choice. Many professors have no experience outside of Christian settings and often present opinions concerning non-Christians that are, at best, ill-informed. For the most part, ideas that challenge fundamental Christianity are either ignored or stereotyped. If you have any real desire to stretch yourself, you will need to have a strong drive to study for yourself outside of class or you will need to choose a different college. Additionally, the school operates from the business end by absolute law. Don't anticipate too much cooperation or assistance from the business office. You will also be restricted to a list of "approved" churches.

The actual quality of the academic work is greatly varied. Taking into account the tendency to ignore mainstream ideas and theories, some classes are quite rigorous. My language classes were challenging and have well-prepared me for a career in religious studies. The biblical studies faculty is very conservative but very intelligent and open to personal conversation. By far, the most intellectually simulating courses at MBBC are the literature classes.

Socially, students are very limited. Strict dress standards are enforced, often with an "iron hand," and contact between opposite sexes is strictly monitored. To be honest, if you have any desire for a normal dating life while at Maranatha, you'll have to be comfortable risking punishment for disobeying the rules. My parents are quite strict, yet I found I had more freedom at my house than at Maranatha. The college will ignore parents desires for the sake of their own rules. Watertown is quite possibly one of the most boring towns I've ever lived in, but since you'll be bound with rules determining how late you can be out, what you can do and with whom you can do it, then it doesn't matter that much.

I had both positive and negative experiences at Maranatha and I met my wife there, so I can't complain too much. But the negative experiences far outweigh the positive. What I found at MBBC was law, not love. If you are theologically, socially conservative and want a Christian academic environment then I recommend you consider a school such at Wheaton or Cedarville.