A Free DVD

Oh, just passing this along. Now, what do I have to do in order to get a free copy of that CD with the pictures of the Gospels in Codex Washingtonianus?

My Classes

My classes at Franciscan this semester are:

Theology of Christ - T - 6:00-9:00pm
Philosophy of the Human Person - MW - 4:00-5:15
Sacraments - R - 2:15-5:00
Foundations of Catholicism - R - 6:00-9:00pm


AND...the class I'm most excited about is one that I'm not even really enrolled in. Fr. James Swetnam, S.J. is a visiting professor this semester teaching a graduate course on the book of Hebrews. Through some lucky connections, I was asked to come sit in on this class. I'm beyond excited. Fr. Swetnam is a big-daddy when it comes to Hebrews. He also argues for Pauline authorship (as do I, except I think Luke actually wrote it as Paul's amanuensis). This should be really fun.

A question about pedagogy

Mark Goodacre's recent post about his first day of teaching a class on the New Testament this term has brought up a question that I've asked myself so many times: how do professors separate faith from the classroom? I don't mean to ask this in the sense that I think it's impossible, I've dialogued with people about the NT numerous times without having to resort to even talking about faith or my own personal beliefs (although I'm sure it creeps through without me knowing it). Is it ever appropriate for a professor to divulge his own beliefs on the matter, though? I know if you take Bart Ehrman's NT course at the University of North Carolina, he is extremely vocal about what he thinks. Does that unnecessarily bias the students towards your belief? I think it does. The professor is such an icon in our world. He is the supposed guarantor of all knowledge in his field, an expert among experts. If he believes it, it must be true!

As someone who wants to be a professor, my idea is that I want to keep my students guessing. I want them to have zero clue where I stand on the matter because I want to have as little influence over them as possible. My big revelation over the last few years has been that there's too much indoctrination (in almost every field) in universities today. Students end up being fundamentalists, able to rattle off the professor's arguments for whatever stance. My hope for myself is that when I finally get around to teaching (sometime in the year 3056, I think) is that I'll be able to discuss Bultmann, Sanders, Wright, Black, Robinson, Tilling (oh yes, he'll be famous by then), Goodacre, etc without my students knowing which parts I agree with and which I don't. Is this sound pedagogy? Is it possible?

Academic Politics?

A new systematic theology has been released: A Theology for the Church. The general editor is the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Daniel Akin. After taking hermeneutics with Dr. Akin, I can tell you, he is one smart guy. I like him, too, because he's a bit fiesty. He's not scared to let you know what he thinks and I dig it.

However, last week when I was helping a friend get her books at the bookstore, I noticed that every theology class I saw was using his book. Before, Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" was the primary book. After having thumbed through "A Theology for the Church", I'm left wondering: What does this book accomplish that J. Millard Erickson and Wayne Grudem haven't already accomplished? What's new? And is it just politics at school vs. academic interests that have caused the switch from Grudem's to this book?

Something I worry about for myself is that I won't have original ideas. I would rather go my whole life unpublished than to crank out article after article and book after book of rehashed ideas. I remember reading Mark Goodacre's The Case Against Q and thinking, "I will never come up with something this brilliant. This is amazing." I realize this is the second time I've mentioned this book, but it's amazing! Go read it! Stop wasting your time here!

Transferring

I don't like to get too terribly personal on this blog (other than my breakdown below concerning my books...but I knew there were those of you out there who could appreciate the pain), but I figure since this announcement has to do with school, this is an appopriate venue. Next Monday I will start classes at Franciscan University of Steubenville majoring in Theology. I realize that as a senior, this is pretty much academic suicide and a terrible idea on my part. However, after a considerable amount of study and prayer, I decided to reconcile with the Catholic Church about a month ago. As such, I will no longer be able to pursue my education at Southeastern.

Anyone can leave any comments they wish, but I would like to reiterate that the only reason I'm really sharing this on this blog is because it effects my studies and this blog is about my time spent as a student of the New Testament and all things related.

The horror! The humanity!!!!

How can an all-loving, all-good, all-powerful God exist if.........I accidentally left my bookbag in the back of my truck during a rain storm?!?! I'm in tears! Sheer agony!

A Psalm of Lament

O Lord, deliver me!
I am surrounded by wet books. My pain is overwhelming.
Books dear to my heart I have lost to the torrent.
My heart cries out for you to deliver them under the fans and ovens and hair dryers.
Keep safe their little pages, allow none to tear.
Reshape my books, O Lord, and I will praise you all of my days.
For you are Holy and a book lover, no doubt.
Praise YHWH for His blessing upon my dry books.


******Update as of 2am 8/18/07*********
I've set up my kitchen table as a book drying center. I have two fans blowing on the books and the books themselves are stood up. Occassionally, I run the hair dryer over them. I think I'm making progress. The books that were in my bookbag were:

My NASB (my main Bible with all my notes in it) - in the book ICU, it may pull through, although it will never be the same. My notes are all smudged now. YEARS of brilliance down the drain!
My Greek NT (UBS 4th Edition) - Critical Condition, but we may be able to bring it back.
My little notebook. This thing is a small, leatherbound notebook that I keep all of my ideas, notes from conferences, etc, in. The pages are stained badly, but I think I can salvage it.
E.P. Sanders "The Historical Figure of Jesus" - Lost, completely. This thing got soaked completely on every page.
Scott Hahn "The Lamb's Supper" - Didn't take too bad of a hit and is in serious condition.
________ "Kinship by Covenant..." (Dissertation) The cover came off, but I think I'll be able to salvage it. I may buy another copy.
Mike Aquilina "The Fathers of the Church" - Critical condition, but I think it'll make it.

New to the blogroll: Scotteriology

I always feel silly linking blogs that probably everyone already reads to my blog, but just in case you've somehow missed this one : Scotteriology.