"No two persons ever read the same book" ~ Edmund Wilson
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Thursday, May 26, 2011
Mennonite Discussion #10
Some Mennonites disapprove of higher education. Do you think that a career in academia necessarily precludes one from faith? How does Rhoda reconcile the two?
I do not think a career in academia NECESSARILY precludes one from faith....however, I certainly think that ANY education beyond what a person has been taught all of his/her life would absolutely make one think.
Prior to Judson I would have told you that if you weren't a Southern Baptist, you were probably going to hell. That was 10 years ago. In my opinion, education, experience, knowledge of the beliefs of others, and biblical study on your own (beyond what your Sunday school teacher tells you) will certainly make you question the beliefs you were raised with. I believe in faith, but sometimes it's okay to question God.
I don't know that Rhoda ever reconciles religion and academia. In Chapter 8, her mother explains religion and I think that, perhaps, Rhoda made a small step towards reconciliation...but certainly not completely:
"When you're young, faith is often a matter of rules. What you should do and shouldn't do, that kind of thing. But as you get older, you realize that faith is really a matter of relationship-with God, with the people around you, with the members of your community."
One of my "Dr. Wilson" quotes that I will take with me to the grave is "Be careful, the more educated you become, the lonelier you will become."
I think sometimes he was referring to religion. Do I love God? YES! Do I believe in evolution? YES! CRAP! Don't tell anyone I just told you those two things at the same time!!
He also told us in Ethics class that "People who masturbate will never be happy."
6 comments:
I am going to defer to Mandy.
I don't think academia would preclude one from faith, but I know that in some cases it would make you challenge it further.
Mandy??
yes, I'd like to hear Mandy's answer too.
I do not think a career in academia NECESSARILY precludes one from faith....however, I certainly think that ANY education beyond what a person has been taught all of his/her life would absolutely make one think.
Prior to Judson I would have told you that if you weren't a Southern Baptist, you were probably going to hell. That was 10 years ago. In my opinion, education, experience, knowledge of the beliefs of others, and biblical study on your own (beyond what your Sunday school teacher tells you) will certainly make you question the beliefs you were raised with. I believe in faith, but sometimes it's okay to question God.
I don't know that Rhoda ever reconciles religion and academia. In Chapter 8, her mother explains religion and I think that, perhaps, Rhoda made a small step towards reconciliation...but certainly not completely:
"When you're young, faith is often a matter of rules. What you should do and shouldn't do, that kind of thing. But as you get older, you realize that faith is really a matter of relationship-with God, with the people around you, with the members of your community."
One of my "Dr. Wilson" quotes that I will take with me to the grave is "Be careful, the more educated you become, the lonelier you will become."
I think sometimes he was referring to religion. Do I love God? YES! Do I believe in evolution? YES! CRAP! Don't tell anyone I just told you those two things at the same time!!
He also told us in Ethics class that "People who masturbate will never be happy."
"People who masturbate will never be happy". I'm gonna have to think about that quote.............
I miss all those Dr. Wilson one liners.
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