Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Brookie passed Greek!

That's right, folks! I did more than pass, and that's totally a God thing! Thank you, Jesus, and thank you, Dr. Bryant.

One thing about school that has been troubling this semester has been how "liberal" the theology is that I've been learning. For instance, I learned in my Old Testament class that there were two authors to the book of Isaiah. Um, what? I spoke with the father of a dear friend, whose father is a biblical scholar, about this issue. His answer? "The whole point of Isaiah is that this has not happened yet. It's that God is saying 'This won't happen for another 500 years, but I'm God and I'm telling you what will happen.'"
Isaiah's prophesy shows us that God knows the future. It reveals to us more of God's character. It also gives us hope. Some would say that the prophesies refer to Hezekiah's son, but Christian thought for centuries attributed these prophesies to Christ and his birth.

So where does this leave me? Well, I'll probably be looking for a conservative seminary to attend. Other than that, I'll eat the fish and leave the bones when it comes to my required religion classes. I'll keep some knowledgeable, trusted biblical scholars and leaders on my speed dial and talk to them about things that I am having trouble with. Above all, I'm going to continue to trust Jesus and rely on Him, and remember that all He asks of me is to love him.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8 NRSV

In Christ alone,
Brookie

4 comments:

Baby Carrot said...

So, you're questioning the head of the department just because someone else, who is JUST as qualified, disagrees?

Well, did you know that the Bible was written thousands of years before anyone in our time was even born? Did you also know that it was written in a different language and has been translated many, many times? So, how would one guy KNOW what exactly the Bible meant?

Also, if you're going to bitch about your classes being liberal, you may want to rethink your decision in attending a liberal arts college.

Brookie said...

Baby Carrot, it seems as if you're new to Blogger because your account has only been around for a few days.
Let me fill you in.
I'm not questioning the head of the department, for one thing.
In the second place, I'm not questioning him directly, I'm questioning a line of theology that he is teaching. And if I'm asking someone just as qualified as him, it's getting a second opinion on the opposite side of the theological playground. Which brings me to a third point.
A liberal arts college has nothing to do with the modern-day concept of being liberal socially or politically. It has everything to do with encouraging discussion-led classes and hands-on experience. Getting opinions from different worldviews, such as going to another professor for his opinion on a theological subject, is the very essence of a liberal-arts education. All I did by talking to someone else on that subject was reinforce my liberal-arts eduation.

Finally, I'm quite aware that the Bible was written in several different languages. The Greek Bible that I read has actually been TRANSLATED once in some places and NONE in others, so you're not really right about that part. The Hebrew Bible is much unchanged as far as translation goes. Now, if you're reading a TRANSLATION of the Bible (NIV, NRSV, NLT, etc.) then yes, you're reading one of the many translations of the Bible, but those translations haven't been re-translated. For example, no legit modern translation is translated from the KJV. They are translated from the original manuscripts in Greek and Hebrew. You are not showing the maturity or prior knowledge required for me to entertain you in serious debate on this subject, so might I suggest that you do some research on this subject and come back with a more mature attitude to discuss this with me.

If you're going to bitch to me in the comments of my own blog, you may want to rethink your line of reasoning. And you may want to remember that there is a big internet out here. If you don't agree with me, there are plenty other blogs for your perusal. Last time I checked, I didn't make you read my blog or offer up any inflammatory language in my post causing you to need to defend yourself. There's no need for a critical comment from you that offers no construction.


One final thought. Your comment was very condescending, and your tone treats me like I'm an idiot. I am no idiot.

Baby Carrot said...

Maybe I just chose yours because I don't like people who think they know everything, or feel like they have to make comments on every little thing. Just trying to give you a taste of your own medicine.

You're silly to think that when the bible is translated, it's translated correctly. It can't be. In case you didn't know this (but I'm sure you do with all your bitching about Greek) some words and phrases do not translate from one language to another. So it's really difficult to always get an exact translation- the translator will just put in what THEY think is right. Without reading the original text in its original language, you cannot tell me you know exactly what it is saying. Besides, its origins go WAY back. What I'm trying to tell you is that you cannot possibly know what the Bible is saying... seriously, you can't honestly tell me you trust a text that is dated back thousands of years ago and that has been modified by several different languages word for word. Also, I know there are several translations. But that doesn't mean that any of them are exactly right. You don't have to explain it to me; I'm not a moron.

So, just as you asked me not to make you out to be an idiot, I'm asking you not to make me out to be one. And saying I speak with a condescending tone- well, there's the pot calling the kettle black.

Brookie said...

It's funny that you're trying to being me off of a pedestal of perfection, because I never claimed to know it all. I claimed to THINK. Big difference. Huge.

You're still failing to grasp the concept of Biblical translation. I don't think that you realize that we can read the languages that the books of the Bible were originally written in. The Epistles? Written in Greek. I read them in Greek. No need for translation there! The Septuagint? Written in Hebrew. Thousands of Jews and Hebrew scholars read it in Greek. No need for translation. You're not talking to me as if you understand that fact.


Why are you "giving me a taste of my own medicine?" I never spoke to you. I never cornered you. I never invoked your attention. I never tried to say that you were wrong in anything that you do. Ignore me, as far as I'm concerned. If you want intelligent conversation, fine. Right now, you're not coming off like that. Coming here just to prove me wrong is infinitely more bitchy than I have ever been in my blog. In fact, it's beyond bitchiness, it's rude.
You have a new account. You must be new in the Blogger world. Either the first thing that you did on Blogger was find my blog through a random post button (without ever making a blog post or profile for yourself, which is unusual) or you found my blog through my facebook and decided that you were going to try the anonymous snark thing. I see through you either way.