kata ta biblia

a blog exploring Christian origins, biblical studies, social/cultural history, method, education and the journey through academia

It's good to be a grad student

I have now experienced my first week of graduate school [at UCLA]. Started off the week with orientation, then had my first day of classes on Thursday, and today I had my first big graduate student social event. Except for the exhaustion (and bruises) from playing basketball for the first time in years, I feel great. On my first day of classes, I got a double dose of Bartchy with the undergrad course I’m grading for (History of Early Christians) and the seminar (Spirituality and Sexuality in the Early Christian Movement).

Prof. Bartchy is a high energy educator who doesn’t tip toe around anything. His views about the history of Christianity are pretty well in line with Anabaptist theology, which is nice for me. There were some digs at Constantine and even infant baptism as not representative of the early Christian movement. He mentioned several times that it bothers him when Christians believe Jesus is divine but don’t think Jesus was right (in what he said).

Today was a picnic at Will Rogers Park, not too far from campus. We went for a short hike, had some good food, got kicked off a field when about to play football, and then some of us went to play basketball. It was a nice way to get to know some folks in a fun atmosphere without the pressure of class. I even met a couple people that will be in my Monday seminar with Ra’anan Boustan (Jews, Gentiles, and Christians in the Roman World). Right now, grad school seems pretty idyllic. I know it’s lots of work (very interesting work, mind you), but the people are great and I’m having fun :) .

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2 Comments by Patrick George McCullough  /  September 27, 2008  /  Posted in: Uncategorized
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  • http://dcspinks.wordpress.com Chris

    “I have now experienced my first week of graduate school.”

    Seminary is graduate school. You experienced your first week of graduate school three years ago.

  • http://patmccullough.com/ Patrick George McCullough

    Yes, thanks for the correction, Chris. . . . I normally make the distinction “at UCLA” but forgot to here. I see you have become a true editor ;)

    At the same time, it may a bit of a technicality. At seminary (at Fuller at least), people seem to consider themselves more as seminarians than “grad students”. At UCLA, my identity is clearly marked out as a graduate student, especially since I’m working in such close proximity to undergrad students.