Break: Numero Dos!

Hey all,

So this is basically spring break #2 and it has gone very swimmingly. I have been uber-productive.

1. I have been editing videos for our service trip dvd.
2. I have gone through everything I own and am having a garage sale on Saturday.
3. I have gotten rid of A LOT of stuff that I do not need or want anymore. Yay!
4. I have read 3 of the comic books that are on the required reading list for my May term class.
5. I have hardly watched any television. This is strange, but good.
6. I have gotten Iowa annual conference stuff squared away.
7. I did watch Glee. But that is only an hour of TV. Plus, it is so good that it does not really count as television - more of an hour of amazing musical genius.

Now I am off to buy a gift for my little cousin for his 1st birthday party.

Cheers,
Hilary

I Like Libraries.

Recently I have been having some really random conversations with people. Some of whom I know, and others who I do not know. Here are some snippets below:

Boy Librarian Who Likes Graphic Novels: "You like comic books?!" Me: "Not really. I just am taking a class on them soon so I was going to get a head start on reading them." BLWLGN: "Maus is such a good starter for you then. Art Spigelman did such a good job on the story and illustrations. It really goes into detail about the Holocaust. And each animal represents someone from that time period." Me: "Okay... thanks?" BLWLGN: "Watchmen is good too." Me: "Dually noted. The professor must think so too 'cause it's on the reading list."

Me: "Yeah, I am checking out all of these books for my capstone class. It should be fun." Girl Librarian Who Loves Vampire Novels: "I would not call these fifteen books fun! It's on religion." Me: "Exactly. It's a bit different than what I have been reading lately - vampire novels." GLWLVN: "No way! I LOVE vampire novels. Have you read Anne Rice? Patricia Briggs? RICHELLE MEAD?" Me: "No. But have you read Charlene Harris, Kimberly Raye, Laurell K. Hamilton, or P.C. & Kristin Cast?" GLWLVN: "No. Let me write these down, and I'll make you a list." (I still have that list and intend on reading all of those books soon. This girl [not me - GLWLVN] wants to be a librarian so I am gonna take her reading suggestions seriously.)

There have been more, but at the moment I need to be focusing on health care financing, retirement security and immigration policy. Whew that's a load. Thank God I am not the President of the United States.

Cheers,
Hilary

Veg Time!

Hey all,

After this capstone paper is turned in tomorrow at 5pm, I am going to grab a drink with other religion capstone members. Then I am going to veg out in front of my tv to the E! Channel as well as VH1, Bravo and Lifetime. And I will need to catch up on tonight's episode of "Project Runway" and Tuesday's new episode of "Glee". After all of this, I will begin to study for finals.

Thank you Jesus for things not related to theology.

Cheers,
Hilary

Religious Scholar... and Pop-Culture Guru

Earlier today, with today actually meaning Monday since I haven't slept yet, I had some random thoughts about myself in terms of education & identity. And it all started with this...

In my religion capstone class, we took a group photo of the entire class as a way of memory. In hindsight, it was [kinda] fun - we were saying things like "heresy" and "damnation" as the camera was clicking. How often do I get to say those things when a picture is getting taken? Never!

After class, I was thinking about my education as a religion major and I couldn't decide on whether or not I am a religious scholar. I don't know why I was thinking this other than the fact that I was thinking about life after college and what my education has done or will do for me.

"Scholar" is such a lofty word, yet at times I do not know where to place my education. I decided that I feel scholarly - some days. I decided to look up "scholar" in the dictionary and the first definition was: "a learned or erudite person, especially one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject." After reading this, I thought that I am a scholar who knows an insane amount of knowledge on religious ideas, theologies, ministries, and theologians, etc. [as well as popular culture - but one can hardly be scholarly in that right?]. But I decided that I could know even more than I already do and that's why I only feel scholarly sometimes.

After more thought, I was thinking that I know more than the average Christian does and this saddens me. Don't misinterpret me, I am not bragging by any means! I just have studied religion for the past 4 years of my life so I have gained a vast knowledge-base and can say this freely. I feel that all believers in Jesus should know about atonement theology, the emergent church, different denominations, liberation theology, how proof-texting is bad, discernment, the cross, Roman historical context and much more; yet many do not. I know people who are atheists or believe in another religion who are more knowledgeable than Christians. I think that I could pick out 20 people from my home congregation and ask them about these topics stated above and I can bet that not many have heard of these or know anything about them. I just feel very sad by this, but happy that I have the knowledge that I do. I want to share it with others, but I'm not sure how [and not from the pulpit!!!].

Enough introspective thought for now. I have a paper to finish.

Cheers,
Hilary

School List

I love lists... so here is one about school:

- 1 week until my last Winter term at Wartburg is done with
- Finals week after this week - which will then officially be the end of Winter term
- Tour week after that!!!
- May term (also known as "play term")
- Graduation at the end of May

So crazy that this journey is almost over. I am ready to begin a new one.

Later,
Hilary