I’ve been thinking about this essay since yesterday. I don’t think I’ve ever read a recollection of a theological conference that I’ve resonated more with, but I always thought that I was the only one who felt that way. I’m currently working on my PhD in theology so I feel an underlying sense of guilt for how underwhelmed all the “cutting edge advances in the field” leave me feeling - like I’m doing something wrong or I just don’t have a theological-enough mind. So I really just want to thank you for your honest reflections about your feelings because it genuinely helped me a lot.
Thank you for this. I’m in a season in life (work-from-home mom of two toddlers) that has me missing those “intellectual friendships”. This gave me hope that I’ll enjoy them again, even if it doesn’t end up looking like academia.
I am finishing a Master’s degree (defending my thesis early next year) and everyone is asking me where I am going to do my doctorate at, and I don’t have the heart to tell them that I have no trust in academia and no desire to be part of its guild. So I just end up saying that I don’t know. And yet, I do find that I come alive in conversation about holy things (and, I must admit unholy things sometimes), and I mourn the loss of a world in which there were a place for that that didn’t require running yourself ragged and routinely breaking the 4th Commandment all the while pretending to be someone you’re not.
Annyway, a theology professor I once had (a Barth scholar) once began a lecture on the doctrine of sin by going through church history and describing how utterly sinful (in great detail) his theological heroes were. It had the rare effect of teaching and sanctifying me all at the same time, and made me mourn, once again, that the world of theological education would be off-limits to someone who didn’t care about credentials and refused to spend time on frivolous things like infomercials and publishing inane journal articles on what Augustine “really thought about concupiscence” (for the 19th go-around).
Your writing resonates with me. When I graduated in 1987 (the dark ages) with my MDiv I had opportunities to pursue a PhD. I had a family, a full time pastorate and was much more excited to dive in to pastoring. Now, decades later I long for the reading, thinking, and discipline of doing a PhD - but it’s too late. I can’t afford to travel to conferences such as the ETS. Your reflections certainly helped me on the rainy Monday in the Pacific Northwest!
I’ve been thinking about this essay since yesterday. I don’t think I’ve ever read a recollection of a theological conference that I’ve resonated more with, but I always thought that I was the only one who felt that way. I’m currently working on my PhD in theology so I feel an underlying sense of guilt for how underwhelmed all the “cutting edge advances in the field” leave me feeling - like I’m doing something wrong or I just don’t have a theological-enough mind. So I really just want to thank you for your honest reflections about your feelings because it genuinely helped me a lot.
What a lovely comment.
Thank you for this. I’m in a season in life (work-from-home mom of two toddlers) that has me missing those “intellectual friendships”. This gave me hope that I’ll enjoy them again, even if it doesn’t end up looking like academia.
You too? I thought I was the only one.
I am finishing a Master’s degree (defending my thesis early next year) and everyone is asking me where I am going to do my doctorate at, and I don’t have the heart to tell them that I have no trust in academia and no desire to be part of its guild. So I just end up saying that I don’t know. And yet, I do find that I come alive in conversation about holy things (and, I must admit unholy things sometimes), and I mourn the loss of a world in which there were a place for that that didn’t require running yourself ragged and routinely breaking the 4th Commandment all the while pretending to be someone you’re not.
Annyway, a theology professor I once had (a Barth scholar) once began a lecture on the doctrine of sin by going through church history and describing how utterly sinful (in great detail) his theological heroes were. It had the rare effect of teaching and sanctifying me all at the same time, and made me mourn, once again, that the world of theological education would be off-limits to someone who didn’t care about credentials and refused to spend time on frivolous things like infomercials and publishing inane journal articles on what Augustine “really thought about concupiscence” (for the 19th go-around).
Your writing resonates with me. When I graduated in 1987 (the dark ages) with my MDiv I had opportunities to pursue a PhD. I had a family, a full time pastorate and was much more excited to dive in to pastoring. Now, decades later I long for the reading, thinking, and discipline of doing a PhD - but it’s too late. I can’t afford to travel to conferences such as the ETS. Your reflections certainly helped me on the rainy Monday in the Pacific Northwest!
Wonderful piece. Thanks for your good-natured candor.
One demurral: I would not say Barth's adultery made him more "credible." Provocative, even refreshing, but not credible.
This is a beautiful, peaceful piece. "Thinking together is a lot like love." Yes! Connection happens here.
This was lovely. I feel it deep in my bones.