Hopeless, or Hopeful?

So, in class today we got into a discussion about prominent issues in our lives, in the world, and in Huntingdon. And to be honest, I got pretty depressed when I saw all of the things that are wrong today. It is overwhelming to think about the fact that even in college, where students choose to further their education and want to learn, we are burdened by standards, rules, and implications that limit our freedom as young adults seeking degrees. How in the world are we supposed to fix this?

I think the heart of the problem is the view institutions have of students. We are warm bodies to fill the desks and pump out statistics that make schools look better. But in our minds, the schools are looking worse and worse. Why does a college have an attendance policy that forces students to attend classes that cram their heads with as much useless information as they can in a hour? How can we see the value of our education when all we are learning to prepare for is the next test that can judge the standards of the institution?

In society found in the New Testament, I am not sure that the answers to these problems would be any easier to find than they are now. Having said that, I do think that biblical social groups had a much better sense of community than modern society. What if we, as a student body, bring our questions and concerns to the administration? What if we as a body realized our value to society and decided the things that we really want to know and approached our teachers and administration with our requests? Jesus wanted the Jews to strengthen and broaden their relationships with each other and with outsiders. Huntingdon is a small college. What if we united to bring our concerns out in the open and possibly figure out ways to change things around here? Maybe REL 312 can start the conversation on campus. Maybe we should make our own survey,  documentary, or history, getting the voices of our student body to all sing as one chorus. We each have talents and ideas to bring to the table.

Maybe the Romans could approach the athletes, the warriors of our school, and bring their concerns into focus. Maybe the Essenes could find and approach smaller programs and groups that many know nothing about in the life of Huntingdon. Maybe the Pharisees could talk to teachers and other faculty of the school who need to realize the worries about our student body. The Zealots and followers of "the Way" could talk to the more prominent religious groups and programs around campus that also may have something to say. I know that in one semester, this is a lot of work, and change probably wouldn't happen so suddenly. But I think that it is important for us as a class to take a closer look at our school. To bring our issues into discussion. Because personally, I am really worried about the learning institutions of this nation. Jesus wouldn't just stand by and watch all of this happen. So we shouldn't either.

Alms for an Ex-Leper?

So in REL 312 this past Tuesday, we discussed the difference between purity and pollution, in the ancient sense. Jesus really did rock people's worlds off of their axes when he dealt with so many exiles of society. When he forgave them of their sins, he didn't just heal them (in fact, the gospels seem to want to make it clear that the miracles are not the important part of the stories) he brought them back into relationship with society. Man, I can just see the look on the scribes' and Pharisees' faces when Jesus acted with such audacity as to welcome such outcasts with open arms.
Who did Jesus think he was? Heck, who did the outcasts think he was? Did they really understand what was going on when he interacted with them? I suppose they did, but just because he reconciled them with society didn't mean that they were automatically buddy-buddy with the scribes and Pharisees. When left with no source of income until they found some vocation in their community, did the newcomers to the "in crowd" feel like the ex-leper in Life of Brian? Shoved into a community that didn't really want much to do with them and that they possibly didn't want to do much with?

Bobblehead Jesus

In class today, we discussed the many different portrayals of Jesus Christ. We looked at a variety of depictions, ranging from a classic, European Jesus to a plastic bobblehead Jesus. Where did our pictures of Jesus come from? They certainly are not historically accurate, and yet we continue to use such examples to depict the appearance of Jesus. But why does it really matter what Jesus looked like? Does the beard really give us insight into the personality of Jesus?
I think it is kind of nice that we have so many depictions of Christ, for no one views him the same. Maybe the concept of all of these different appearances (beard, no beard, blue eyes, brown eyes, straight hair, long hair, short hair, curly hair) is to reflect the different understandings of Jesus and his role in our lives. Giving Jesus an appearance we are familiar with and comfortable around, even an appearance we can laugh around (the bobblehead) allows him to become more accessible in our minds. I suppose that as long as we do not become so preoccupied with his appearance that we lose the true picture of Jesus as our Saviour (no matter what he actually looked like) that bobblehead Jesus is okay by me :)

And Jesus Rolled His Eyes.

So, I was reading on of the texts last week in Rel 312, and I was struck by how the book ended one of its chapters on the life of Jesus. It talked about how Jesus was a Jew (of course), and things might have turned out a lot differently if Christianity had not become a new prominent religion after his life on earth. What if Jesus came not to create a new faith, but merely to expand upon Judaism? What if we got it wrong?
The text mentioned that the absence of Christianity might have drastically impacted the rise of anti-semitism and the events of European history in the mid-20th century. Would Hitler have found another reason for genocide, or would the Holocaust be entirely erased from history?
Was Christianity merely a way for Gentiles to become believers? Could we have handled the inclusion of Gentiles in Judaism better? Why is there such a division between Jews and Christians? Did Jesus, after all of his works and teachings, ascend into Heaven and roll his eyes at the misunderstandings of humankind? I really woudn't blame him.