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
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