Faith Journey moves forward

Second Wednesday of Easter

One of the standard things evangelical parents tell their children, when they go to college, is "Don't take any Religion courses. They will make you lose your faith." As one who has some knowledge of Religion courses, my retort is, "If a Religion course makes you lose your faith, your faith must not have been much to start with." 

My own experience was just the reverse. I got a bit of a head start. When I was a senior in high school, my church along with two other churches offered two full semester college level courses, Intro OT in the fall and Intro NT in the spring. The classes met Saturday mornings from 9:30-12:00. I jumped at the opportunity. We learned the standard sorts of things one learns in intro Biblical courses, source critical theory, JEDP in OT, Mark, Q, M, and L in NT, Historical-Critical methodology, the kings of Israel and Judah, assuredly authentic and disputed letters of Paul, etc. These courses opened up a whole new level of Biblical understanding for me. The Bible became real for me. It became anchored in history. It became a wealth of literature in many genres. It became a diversity of theologies. It became a Jesus who was totally human, as well as totally divine.

It always saddens me when I ask classes I have taught or small groups I have been in at University UMC how many have taken Religion courses in college. The answer is usually hardly any. Often, when I have taught people in churches, I have been asked, "Why didn't I learn that in church?" I don't have a good answer. I have done my best to see that you do learn that in church. Disciple Bible Study has been our best resource for such learning.

Most of you know the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, the four sources for Christian faith: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience. Scripture is primary. My own approach to faith has been largely through reason, through an intellectual quest for deeper faith. An intellectual approach to the Bible has been my major source. A much deeper experiential source would come about. More on that later.

So, yes, let your children and grandchildren--encourage you children and grandchildren to take Religion courses in college.

Faithfully,

Christian