Snapshot of Political Leanings at Fuller Seminary
In academia, Fuller Theological Seminary has a reputation for being a conservative place. Within Evangelicalism, Fuller has a reputation of being a progressive, or even liberal place. I am not a big fan of the terms “conservative” or “liberal” in either the political or theological spheres. I do not find I “fit” within such a spectrum. I have too many questions about either side to associate myself with them. I don’t even want to call myself a “moderate” because that term still defines me within the liberal-conservative continuum.
But people still use the terms and, much of the time, pejoratively. Or if not pejoratively, then at least tied to some kind of value judgment about “conservatism” or “liberalism.” So, one unscientific way to explore the political leanings of Fuller Seminary, which may or may not have bearing on the theological leanings of Fuller Seminary, is via Facebook. Facebook has this feature to select your political leaning from a range of options (you can only select one): Very Liberal, Liberal, Moderate, Conservative, Very Conservative, Apathetic, Libertarian, or Other. Many people feel comfortable selecting one of these for their Facebook friends to see (I have picked “Other”) and you can thus search through a given “Network” of people on Facebook for those who have chosen those identifiers. Granted, not everybody picks the most accurate category. For example, for awhile, Josh McManaway jokingly selected “Very Conservative” to go with his tongue-in-cheek write-in answer for “Religious Views”: “Very Christian.” [I'd like to say that my favorite answer to Religious Views, by the way, is my friend Alan, who wrote: "Yes, I have some."] Nevertheless, I think people are usually pretty honest about where they feel they fall in the political spectrum.
Facebook created a network for Fuller Seminary about five months ago. Since then (at the time of writing this post), we’ve garnered 742 students, alums, faculty and staff with Fuller email addresses who have joined (you need an official email address to join a school network). Here is a breakdown of those who identify themselves with one of the above mentioned political categories (percentages are of the total who have chosen a category: 327):
- Moderate: 160 (49%)
- Other: 73 (22%)
- Liberal: 48 (15%)
- Conservative: 30 (9%)
- Very Liberal: 5 (2%)
- Apathetic: 4 (1%)
- Libertarian: 4 (1%)
- Very Conservative: 3 (1%)
I’m happy that the vast majority of my Fuller peers in this little Facebook poll are also uncomfortable with the terms “liberal” and “conservative.” We should note, however, that there are one and a half times more self-declared “liberals” than “conservatives” in the Fuller network. It may be fodder for those Evangelicals who believe Fuller is a bastion of “heretical” liberalism, but the numbers should at least give one pause before slapping a singular label on the school and all who reside there.
SBL reflections on hold
I have many reflections that I’d like to share about last weekend’s conference. I met many people that I only knew by blog, and a few I only knew by their books. I walked so much that my legs about fell off. I went to some interesting sessions on things like Denny Weaver’s nonviolent atonement, the AAR-SBL split, Revelation and violence, the minoritized in academic biblical studies, and “Jewish Christianity.”
Alas, it is the end of my quarter with many of my own assignments and some grading begging my attention and I have some doctoral application things to do, so good things come to those who wait. My reflections will be on their way in a little while.
I would like to note, however, how Kevin Scull and Brandon Wason were all over the place at the conference! I just couldn’t shake their presence wherever I went. But now, when I try going to their blog, nothing’s there!
Biblioblogger lunch
No, that’s not where one eats bibliobloggers for lunch, but rather the time during which one meets other bibliobloggers for conversation and food. It’s going to be at 11:30am on Sunday at the entrance to the book exhibit, so that all the people going to the book exhibit can say, “Who are all these crazies blocking the entrance to the book exhibit?”
Chris Brady is scoping out lunch options and Kevin Wilson encourages us all to get the word out. Hence, this post. This is not a closed session, by the way. All are welcome. It is unfortunate, though, that April DeConick can’t make it. I’ll have to find her elsewhere!
It’ll only be a little over an hour, so that people can head over to various presentations of interest that start around 1pm.
I would also like to mention just how grateful I only have a two-hour train ride to get to San Diego, unlike the massive journeys faced by Chris Tilling and James Crossley.
Monumental moments: some reflections
Since we moved to Pasadena, my wife and I have been living with an elderly couple (they just turned 96 and 99 recently) in an apartment within their home. The health of the 99-year-old wife has been on the decline for some time, especially in the last week or so. Just yesterday, she passed away. If you count the year that they dated before getting married, they’d been together for 70 years. 70 years!
This week I’ve been poring over websites about doctoral admission procedures and communicating with the people who are writing me letters of recommendation. Each program that I am applying to is wonderful and, I feel, is a good fit for my interests and personality. In order to apply to each school, particularly write the admissions essay, I have to really believe that I will be going there. Not just believe that I could get accepted, but I have to imagine myself setting foot on that campus as my home for the next five or six years. It’s quite an emotional roller coaster if you think about it. In a sense, I am psychologically packing up and moving to about eight different states in the country. This time next year, my wife and I will be in one of those eight states (assuming at least one school will have me).
Additionally, I am entrenched in the study of the Gospel of John. I am reading Meeks, Borgen, Brown, Lincoln, Beasley-Murray, Thompson, and of course many others. I am reading Philo and Josephus and 2 Baruch. I am thinking about “I am” and Logos and wisdom and manna. I was a little standoffish about the Gospel of John before, with my Anabaptist tendencies for the Matthew and Luke. But diving in like this, taking two courses from a world class Johannine scholar, has reoriented my thinking about the Gospel. I’m probably not going to write a dissertation on John or anything, but my mind has been expanded. I could probably even say that I’ve learned more this quarter than any other quarter of seminary.
I am going to SBL/AAR this weekend. Actually, since I am the new On-campus Student Representative for SBL at Fuller, I should probably be involved in something with the Student Advisory Group, but I haven’t heard anything yet. I am saddened that, just as I am getting started as a scholar, this will be the last meeting with both organizations together for awhile. I am a member of both SBL and AAR because I have interdisciplinary interests. But since, I guess I’d “land” more in the Bible area, I’m going to have to choose SBL for conferences. Sorry AAR. Why you gotta do this anyway? Also, at the meeting, I’m going to try to meet up with professors at the schools I’m applying to. I may be meeting people with whom I will have a very close relationship with for the next 5-6 years. Perhaps even for decades to come.
For next quarter, I’ve been green-lighted to take Don Hagner’s doctoral seminar on the History of New Testament Scholarship. Apparently, I’m the first masters-level student to take the course in 10 years or so. They don’t even have call letters for it in the system, so there are two or three departments at Fuller working to set up those call letters for next quarter. I am honored and astounded that so much effort is taking place so that little old me can take a seminar.
I am grading Hebrew exegesis and the academic fates of about thirty students rest in my hands. Okay, that’s overly dramatic, but it’s part of what I’m thinking about lately.
My Dad, my brother (not by blood–long story) and his Honduran wife are coming out to have Thanksgiving with my wife and me. They are driving from Austin to LA to get here. It will be the first time the five of us have been together, not including their schedule-hectic wedding in Honduras. It is going to be so wonderful I cannot even begin to express it.
We got a new cat about a month ago. Sometimes she stands up on her hind legs and it makes me happy.
After finals week, I’m going in for jury duty. Which will it be: prayer to not get chosen or dedicated attention to some specific case of civic justice?
Those are some thoughts on life right now.
Sir Reads-a-lot: "I Like Big Bibles"
This video is disturbing on so many levels, and yet funny at the same time. Interesting how they “Christianize” an offensive sexist rap song and turn it into an offensive Christian sexist rap song:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4]
Here are some notable lines:
- When a girl walks in with a KJV and a bookmark in Proverbs, you get stoked. Gotta name engraved, so you know this girl is saved.
- Ooh, mamma mia, you say you want koinonia? Well, bless me, bless me, and teach me about John Wesley.
- I ain’t talkin’ bout a paraphrase, cuz Paul wouldn’t use those anyways.
- So, I’m sittin’ here thinkin, “What if… I find me a girl that shows midriff?” You can have those bimbos, I keep those chicks that do devos.
- A word to the Christian sistahs, I can’t resist ya. I do God’s time wit’ ya. But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna pray till the break of day.
- Baby got it goin’ on, like the wife in Proverbs 31. We just might get engaged, when we finish readin’ this page. Cuz it’s worn, it’s torn, and I know that girl’s reborn.
- So, Ladies [Yeah?], ladies [yeah?], do you wanna save people from Hades? [yeah!] Then read it, till the pages fall out, even white preachers gotta shout.
- 39 + 27 = 66 books. And if you’re Catholic, there’s even more.
And a whipping motion at the end? What is that supposed to symbolize? I admit that this video makes me laugh and that’s primarily why I’m posting it. But the more I ponder it, the more I think this version is more offensive than the real version. Why? Because this version promotes the oppression of women under the religious auspices of an authoritative sacred text. Perhaps we can dismiss Sir Mix-a-lot, but the implication in this version (by “whiteboyDJ”) is that a woman is supposed to be pious and submissive because that’s what God has ordained and that’s what a holy Christian man wants.
Oh well, I guess I’m just a “weenie who gets the Bible on CD.”
Issues of economic class and academia
Wonderful article in The Chronicle, an excellent personal reflection from a professor with working class background. Here’s an excerpt:
I know that I don’t belong in the old neighborhood either. I made my choices long ago; or perhaps others made them for me. No one is awaiting my return. I think I can hear what they’d say: “You seem to like playing the working-class hero for rich people. Whatever. Do it if it works for you. You never belonged here anyway, even when you were a kid. If I could get out of here, I would. So get on with your life. We’ll be fine without you.”
Meanwhile, back on the job as a tenured professor — certifying the inherited status of his middle-class students — the self-proclaimed “academic class traitor” romanticizes his alienation and mocks his own naïve posturing. He realizes there are no people whom he can serve without some inner conflict.
Is unbelief the biggest threat in the world?
That is what my seminary’s esteemed president, Richard Mouw, wrote yesterday on his blog. He was reflecting on the words of Paul Ramsey, who once said in a presentation he gave that nuclear proliferation was the “second biggest threat” in the world:
In the question and answer period that followed, a bishop who was known for his liberal theological views posed the obvious question to Professor Ramsey: “You kept referring to the arms race as the second biggest threat to the human race, but I don’t think I heard you tell us what the first biggest threat is.” “Oh, yes,” Professor Ramsey replied. “The first biggest threat. Well, it is something that you probably don’t know anything about. It is the problem of unbelief!”I regularly remind myself of the lesson contained in that remark. I follow closely the declarations of mainline Protestant leaders, especially those of my own Presbyterian denomination. There are many of those declarations with which I agree. Indeed, I doubt that anyone can fault me for failing to take at least some of the issues they care about quite seriously. On many occasions I have joined others in speaking out about peace in the Middle East, global warming, torture, the war in Iraq, and racism–to name some of more obvious topics.
These are important issues to address. Working to promote justice and peace is a high priority for followers of Christ. But as urgent as these issues are for the health of the societies in which we live, we need to be clear about the fact that they are symptoms of a deeper problem–the unbelief that is in turn an expression of a rebellious spirit that permeates all of our lives, including the systemic dimensions of human interaction.
My comment in reply:
Hi Dr. Mouw! I appreciate your post, but I do have to make one qualification. The word “unbelief” has, I think, been hijacked by a certain brand of Christianity that has emphasized belief and belief only. That is, it emphasizes a mental and/or emotional state of trust. But my understanding of the New Testament’s conception of belief is more holistic. Biblical “belief” is tied in with discipleship and living a transformed life according to the Spirit.I think this is an important distinction because you state that important problems like violence are “symptoms” of unbelief. Well, there are plenty of folks who supposedly “believe” but are, in fact, the cause of violence (I could point to many in American politics, but I won’t). The root problem, I think, is not necessarily “unbelief” in and of itself, as most people might understand it, but lives that are not transformed by true and holistic belief.
Of course, another important question that Christians must face is the fact that many who do not believe in Jesus are not causing these “symptoms” of violence, poverty, racism, but are instead working hard to transform the world for the better.
To say that “unbelief” is the deeper problem and that these other issues are merely the symptoms implies a direct relationship, so that when one “cures” the “unbelief,” one will rid the world of the secondary symptoms. Since many Christians do not make a positive difference with these symptoms, and many who are not Christians do make a difference, we can see that the equation is perhaps too simple.
Exploring Hebrew narrative for a friend
I have a friend who is currently a first year MDiv student at a school that many salivate over. He currently does not know which way his career will go: academic studies or ministry. Currently, he’s so loaded with the daily responsibilities of classwork that he hasn’t had much time to find a niche of research that he truly gets excited about. His mental skill for academia, however, is off the charts, in my opinion. So, I’m trying to think of ways he can explore his potential academic interests. Out of anything, he is most drawn to Hebrew narrative and is interested more in literary approaches than historical-critical work. I don’t think historical reconstruction does much for him, nor does abstract theological speculation.
Personally, I had a breakthrough when I discovered just what niche I am interested in exploring. First, I thought I would be interested in Jesus studies and the Gospels, but I am not as interested in recovering the “historical Jesus.” I then realized that I’m more interested in social issues in general (hence, for example, my work with Bread for the World this past Summer), so I started to think that way when researching. I found that the themes that I get most jazzed up about are how the early Christians apply their understanding/memory of Jesus to their social situation and, on the flip side, how their social situation affects their understanding/memory of Jesus. I also noticed that I simply got excited when I read apocalyptic literature. So, there it is: social issues in the New Testament and Christian origins, with a special interest in apocalyptic literature. But it took a long time to get there. Well, relatively “long” . . . I’m still in seminary, after all. But I was quite overwhelmed with the vast possibility for research areas up until I pinpointed this.
So, what are some ways that my friend can explore what might excite him most about Hebrew narrative? What are resources that he could turn to that would help him see if this really is his bag, baby? I’m no expert in Hebrew narrative, but here goes my brainstorming session:
- Explore some authors who might be down your alley. It seems to me that this is a key move that opens possible doors in multiple directions. He really liked Robert Alter’s The Art of Biblical Narrative and I think he appreciated the bit of Brueggemann that he read, too.
- Try this: Since he liked Alter’s book, search ATLA and look for reviews of the book. My search pulled up 28 reviews. See what other scholars said about it. This helps him not only to think critically about Alter’s book, but also think critically about where the reviewer is coming from. The reviewer may be someone whose works are worth checking out or maybe not. Or, as with Whybray’s significant review essay in JSOT (no 27, 1983), you may get some historical context and background for Alter as a scholar and this book placed within the larger framework of those scholars attempting literary criticism of the Bible. Actually, it turns out that Alter’s book is a great exercise for this because that particular issue of JSOT contains several reviews of the book along with a response from Alter himself.
- Read other books, or even articles, that might be of interest by these authors. What authors do they reference in the main text and footnotes most often? What topics come up often in these articles and books? That might provide an avenue for further research.
- Following the last point, what are the most important/interesting issues related to Hebrew narrative? What’s going on with the deuternomistic history and how does that color the narrative? What interpretative implications are there for the various dating schemes for the texts (pre/post-exilic)? How might the Dead Sea Scrolls relate to the literature? What do we do with New Testament usage of OT narrative? Try just reading entries about these things in dictionaries like Anchor Bible Dictionary or IVP’s dictionaries on the Pentateuch or Historical Books. Which ideas seem more attractive here?
- When you find names of people that you respect and find interesting, find out where they teach (even if they might be retired) and explore those programs. Alter teaches in the Jewish Studies department at UC-Berkeley. Who else teaches there (e.g., Daniel Boyarin) and does their research seem interesting? Their doctoral program functions jointly with the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). Does that program seem like a good way to go about studying? What are some other major programs in Hebrew Bible? Look at places like Johns Hopkins, UCLA, or U of Chicago. Do these programs seem like a good fit? Who teaches there? Does their work seem interesting? What about a smaller place like Brueggemann’s home at Columbia Theological Seminary? Turns out, Columbia doesn’t have a PhD program. Would you feel comfortable at another seminary environment (like Union-PSCE or Fuller)? In all of these programs: what would be your concentration, who might be your advisor, what kinds of courses would you take, etc.?
- Read blogs that intelligently wrestle with texts of the Hebrew Bible. This isn’t my area, but some good ones for that seem to be Ancient Hebrew Poetry, Awilum, Biblische Ausbildung, Blue Cord, Claude Mariottini, Higgaion, and Ketuvim. I know I’m missing people . . . sorry! Though, trying to read through a bunch of blogs can be overwhelming, especially since a heck of a lot of blogging by biblical studies blogs is not actually about biblical studies, let alone the biblical text itself. What might be even better would be to look at the monthly “carnivals” of biblical studies blogs that highlight some of the best blogging about biblical issues in various categories. Go down month by month and read the Hebrew Bible entries. I think this gives you an idea for the vast array of approaches and ideas out there, giving you a kind of dip into the waters of academia.
- Make sure to make appointments to chat with the OT faculty at your school and get their advice about how to think about these issues, how to get prepared, where to think of applying, what books to read, what languages are important to study, etc.
These are the kinds of things (though from a NT/Christian origins perspective) that I worked through to find my interests. But it is also a deep kind of soul searching, too. I don’t think people should hop into academia because it seems like an interesting career, but because you are driven by it: either to research, to teach, or both. For me, I just have this gut level passion for thinking about social implications of textual issues. I think that comes from its immense relevance to how the sacred texts are socially used and misused in society and culture today. I also have a passion for making the complicated stuff accessible to “average” people who have a hard time dealing with it. I guess it comes down to: with what issues do you want to spend your life wrestling?
Greg Boyd is a Mennonite
So he says on his blog in reflections of a conference in which he shared as a guest speaker, the “Christian Ministry in a Red and Blue World” conference (part of the Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series) at Hesston College. Any who have read his The Myth of a Christian Nation will understand why he would be welcomed by an Anabaptist crowd. For those who haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. Here is a particularly astute point he made on his blog post based on what he’s learning of the Mennonite church:
But there was another very interesting thing I learned about the Mennonites: they’re in trouble. I heard this from a number of people, including John Roth. One man literally wept as he told me how he’s been grieved seeing Mennonites abandon their core vision of the Kingdom and core convictions over the last several decades. They’re loosing their counter-cultural emphasis and becoming “Americanized” and “mainstreamed” (as various people told me). Consequently, many Mennonite leaders are getting involved in partisan politics in a way that goes against the Mennonite tradition. While Evangelicals tend to be co-opted by Right Wing politics, these leaders are being co-opted by Left Wing politics. They’re basically defining Kingdom social activism as supporting radical democratic policies. Yet, three fourths of Mennonites are Republican. Hence there’s growing tensions between the leadership and the body of the Mennonites.
I think another book that is relevant to this concern is Hauerwas’ Resident Aliens, even though he is not officially a Mennonite either. In my view, the co-opting of Anabaptist denominations by any political party is a travesty.
Study Finds Working At Work Improves Productivity
WASHINGTON, DC—According to a groundbreaking new study by the Department of Labor, working—the physical act of engaging in a productive job-related activity—may greatly increase the amount of work accomplished during the workday, especially when compared with the more common practices of wasting time and not working.
I imagine this could easily be applied to academic work as well as the business world.
-
Elsewhere . . .- Blog titles beginning with "A" to "Z" on your reader Mark Goodacre
- Of making many books there is no end Chris Brady
- Free Online: The Liddell-Scott Jones Lexicon S and C
- Does Higher Criticism Attempt to “Destroy the Bible”? II agathos
- Steven J. Friesen and the Identity of Satan’s Throne in Pergamum alan
- Does Higher Criticism Attempt to “Destroy the Bible”? agathos
- Bloomsbury buys Continuum Mark Goodacre
- Imperial America Peter J. Leithart
- C.F.D. Moule on the Birth of the New Testament d. miller
- Responding to Kostenberger (with comparisons to Marshall) Jeremiah
-
As a member of RevGalBlogPals, I am committed to building a supportive online community for women clergy, women church professionals, and women in religious life.
Research assisted by: