Training to Be an Independent Thinker and Researcher
Dr. Andres Tang
Professor of Christian Thought (Theology and Culture)
Whether in learning or in teaching, the Th.M. Program is very much different from the M.Div. Program. Being a teacher, the mode of instruction I adopt also reflects my expectations for students.
At the beginning, no one knows how to conduct research. The M.Div. degree is the first degree on the road of theological study. An M.Div. student learns the ABCs of theological knowledge. When a student goes into the Th.M. Program, in addition to the basic theological knowledge they have, they can directly read from the classics and join the discussion where they learn how to think independently about theology. I adopt a seminar format for conducting each class lesson in which students take turns to present, respond, clarify and discuss in order to deepen their understanding of the classics. This is the first step in conducting an independent study.
What follows then is the thesis writing. This is the next step towards learning to think in-depth about a theological problem based on their reading of the classics. Without the ability to ask the right questions, one can hardly write a good thesis. To read the classics is not simply to absorb its knowledge. What is more important is to learn the thinking process of our predecessors and well-known scholars. Therefore, learning to write a thesis begins with learning to read different classics. Then the student tries to formulate and answer questions, sharing their findings with classmates, listening to their responses, and making modifications. Of course, the teacher’s instruction is indispensable.
Independent thinking and research must go beyond mere ideas. Without intentional cultivation, it is impossible to form such a habit. Moreover, this cultivation is impossible by any student alone. The interactions and exchanges with other students under the teacher’s guidance, are indispensable. I have always used this teaching method to train Th.M. students’ ability to do thinking and research independently, hoping that they can build a strong, solid foundation and then go on to a higher level.