| Author |
Message |
Jude the Obscure
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 1999 - 12:34 pm: |     |
Colleen,
Maybe you feel you need to explain yourself to Allenette and others, but certainly not to me. I understood you correctly from the start. And I believe your mind is clearer and more insightful than all the theology and biblical studies profs at Andrews! I mean this sincerely, since I spent two years there listening to them and taking their exams.
I'm not talking here about the ones who were drummed out for thinking and reasoning despite the "party line."
I'm talking about the profs we students called "Peas and Corn," and many others who stayed on with the blessing of the GC, because they switched off their brains like light bulbs. Despite their PhD's, these men earned failing grades from me. Reason: It was obvious that they had no intellectual integrity.
The ones who had integrity were fired or pressured out. One went to Notre Dame, another to U. Chicago, a third back to England, a fourth sentenced to the library, a fifth forcibly retired. Regarding him, a fellow theology student commented, "They tossed him aside like an old rag."
I could go on for reams, but my point is: It is impossible to "be on the payroll" and have academic freedom. The hierarchy reasons like this: "While you work for US you have to teach what we tell you. We don't care what you say behind closed doors. But if you teach it or put it in books or journal articles, you've gone too far."
I would take only slight issue with your comment, "They cling tenaciously to the church, insisting that it be 'big enough' to accommodate all manner of divergent beliefs. If that attitude isn't religion by rationalizing and mind-twisting, I don't know what is!"
Yes, they do cling tenaciously to the church. Yes, they do insist that it be "big enough" to accommodate divergent beliefs. But those with degrees in theology are essentially stuck. Their chances of getting a job in their field elsewhere is virtually nil. Many of them haven't published sufficiently under the "publish or perish" rubric to compete. Bottom line for many: THEY CAN'T GET A JOB IN THEIR FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMFORTABLE OL' DENOM.
Something you may not know: Many in the hierarchy don't "believe it" either. But being essentially politicians, they've long since learned to suppress or even repress their own cognitive processes. We're not talking about low IQ people here. We're talking about people who are under a spell, mystified.
One difference between hierarchs and academics is that the hierarchs are more skilled in covering their Heinekens beer cans, else they couldn't have garnered enough constituency votes to have risen as high as they have. They graciously try to communicate their consummate skills to academics. But academics are a different breed of furry forest mammal. Their primary job is to study and teach and, in minimal cases, do research. They're not basically politicians. And so they have a tougher time twisting their brains into pretzels.
There are exceptions, of course, such as Dr. Bacchiocchi -- as massively illustrated by his Soviet-style rewrite of history, FROM SABBATH TO SUNDAY. These people really are further "around the bend" than their colleagues and even the politico-hierarchs. I don't think you could make a successful case that Dr. B has a low IQ or is venal. I do think you could make a successful case that he is somewhat removed from reality, part of a group that is "split off from reality," the classic definition of schizophrenia. I don't mean an individual who is schizophrenic. He's quite normal within his group. I mean a group that is schizophrenic.
Politicians tend to be more pragmatic, accustomed as they are to dealing with the likes of "hysterical historicals" and other loony tunes and merrie melodies, such as the "Our Firm Foundation" crowd.
For all you friends out there in cyberspace -- yes, including you GC-connected monitors -- the Firm Foundation, by the way, isn't Jesus the Christ. Not even close. 'Nuff sed.
Jude |
Allenette
| | Posted on Friday, December 17, 1999 - 10:16 am: | |
Jude: I agree with what you wrote above :-(
Colleen: I also knew what you were getting at but just HAAD to get my 2 cents worth in about the LACK of depth of thought that goes on amongst most members. Most everyone on here has asked those hard questions and by their presence here, we know some of their conclusions :-)
Some would say that in my rejection of SDA, I've thrown the baby out with the bathwater; I would say that I'm still in the process of locating the baby's presence anywhere to begin with :-) I havent given up, I'm just still looking around.
Happy Holidaze y'all !! :-) |
Jude the Obscure
| | Posted on Friday, December 17, 1999 - 1:24 pm: | |
Allenette, I'm not the slightest bit worried about your spirituality or place of honor in the kingdom of God (Emanuel) that is among us right here and now. Thanks for the "happy holidaze" greeting. -Jude |
renie
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 1999 - 6:32 pm: | |
Jude....Dr. Bacchiocchi just needs to be humbled a bit. Six months in the county jail would straighten him right out. He doesn't live in the 'real world'. |
Jude the Obscure
| | Posted on Sunday, December 19, 1999 - 7:56 pm: | |
Rennie: And such a waste of potential! --Jude |
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