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Flying those Duke blue colors today
The United Methodist Reporter newspaper profiles Duke Divinity School (my alma mater) as part of its series on the United Methodist related seminaries.
Guess which professor said this? "Our task isn't to tear down their faith, but to form them with a determined sense of themselves and shaped by what it means to live the Christian faith...We're trying to teach people that Christianity is about the kingdom of God and living a life according to the Gospel, which is different from what they've heard about Christianity being this tingling mass of kindness*." (emphasis added)
The only thing about the article I didn't like was the opening. "Chris Brady feared a sea of academics at United Methodist-related Duke Divinity School would wash away his spirituality." I don't understand that fear. I've heard it expressed before - seminary will kill your faith. It seems to be based on a kind of anti-intellectualism and knowledge/faith dichotomy. So what's behind that? The school's motto is Eruditio et Religio — knowledge and faith.
*probably edited from: "damn tingling mass of kindness."
You just gotta love that brilliant sonof******. You know, he's got a book
on Bonhoeffer due out in the Spring some time - I look forward to the
apoplexy among some of my fellow Lutherans.
Oh, and thanks for the fine, delightful, funny blog.
Peace.
Thomas [thom53215@aol.com]
Damn fine blog, Jen. Damn fine. I like Stan. He is nuts, but I like him.
I will be interested in how he reads Bonhoeffer.
"Tingling mass of kindness" indeed. It is you know.
And I have heard the same thing mentioned, that loss of faith piece. I think you have it right. Anti-intellectualism, personal Jesus, faith vs. theology....it is all there. We preach it from our pulpits. It is our doctrine.
Knew it was SH before clicking the link, but it was nice to have it
confirmed. Great article.
Peter Nixon [nixonpca@excite.com]