Eighty Years (or so) To The Big Zero

UPDATE: I got an A for this class and an A for my paper. Pretty decent, me thinks.

I’ve been taking a Christian Spirituality and Prayer course for my BA in Technology. It was the only class offered and the last class of this type (humanities) I needed before I could focus on the core classes in my field.

Many of you know, or may have guessed, I’m not a big fan of religion (of any stripe). During the class I was able to keep a balance between questioning and not being antagonistic. Eventually the instructor subtly sped up the lectures so that practically no one could ask questions. But that didn’t matter since I was one of three people raising their hands requesting clarity.

As a side note, on the first day of class I almost dropped it. The instructor is a preacher and several students in the class were already rocking their heads back and forth and I could hear quiet Amens whispered now and again.

But … I decided to approach it from a different perspective… research for my book on Father Joseph. I needed the phraseology, the history of church doctrine, and quotable highlights from what preachers say and have said throughout history. In that context I stayed in the class and got a lot out of it.

My position didn’t change and to be honest was only validated as the history of Christianity unfolded before us. There were many “dark times” as explained by the preacher professor. And from what I heard, know from the past, and have seen there aren’t very many light times.

Anywho…. it was a good class and I learned much. Last Thursday 12Feb09 I gave the following presentation to my class and instructor. It was well received by some and crimestop took over for others. It was very interesting to watch many nod in approval as I read scripture and toed the party line, then immediately physically roll back in their chair and shake their head as I offered a different perspective on what was really happening. (Or what possibly may have been happening if you take the religiosity out of the equation, also known as what was really happening. What can I say, I’m biased. 8^)

After I gave the presentation the instructor had us take a break. When we came back, one more person gave their presentation were unexpectedly (and what didn’t happen before my presentation) people started asking questions and clarifications about the person and events in the paper and the instructor had to break in and give the answers because the student only had pat answers. When that was over he suddenly let us go 50 minutes early with more than half the class still left to give presentations. 8^)

Enjoy if you want. http://www.steagus.net/moses/

Comments as always are welcome.
Sterling

Thinking out loud