I officially finished my classes on Thursday, and now all I have left are my finals. Well, my single final on the last day of finals (Friday, April 24). It has definitely been a very interesting second year. A lot of ups and downs, a variety of classes, new challenges, old challenges, and some new perspectives.
There has been plenty that has happened, some of it good, some of it bad, but I am very ready to come home regardless. Amongst my friends, we have agreed that the more time we can get out of Princeton, the better. It's not that we hate it, but there is definitely a culture that develops here that can be detrimental when we're overexposed to it. It is hard to explain, but the point is, it's always good to get away from our institution and to go back into the "normal" world.
I have registered for my classes next year, and I can once again say that, from the outset, I am very excited about them. Here are my classes:
Introduction to Prophetic Literature
Ethics and the Problem of Evil
Education, Evangelism, and Formation in the Missional Church
January Term: Issues in the Theology of Scripture
Teaching Ministry
It should be a really good semester. I have had classes with most of the professors I'm taking from, so it should be a great semester to develop connections with profs.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what my plans are for summer. I've assumed that I've made it pretty plain as to what I'm doing this summer, and we all know the mantra about assuming. I am coming home to CA (as my first paragraph probably made clear). I am going to be returning to La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, my new church home of which I am now a member, as an intern, though this time not as an official PTS intern. I am really excited about the opportunity to serve there again. I will be staying at my parents' home again, living in my room. And I'll be home for about four and a half months, since school doesn't start until mid-September. So I am looking forward to a very long, productive-but-relaxing summer. Plenty of time to see friends and family.
Here is my flight info on the way home, for those who are interested:
Depart: Saturday, April 25
Leave: PHL @ 9:35 AM
Arrive: LAX @ 2:00 PM
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Flight Changes
I made some changes to my flight coming home. Basically, I'm leaving a half hour earlier and getting back to CA a couple hours earlier and in a different airport without layovers. My new itinerary is below:
Southwest Flight# 3894
Saturday, April 25
Depart: PHL @ 9:35 AM
Arrive: LAX @ 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Less Than a Month Away
Well, it's hard to believe, but I have three weeks of class left, finals, and then I will be two-thirds of the way toward completing my Master of Divinity. In many ways, I can't wait for that time to pass. I like my classes, but I am ready to go home. Coming home for spring was great, and it just reinforces the feeling that I don't really belong in New Jersey or on the East Coast. I don't talk about that too much, partially because I don't have time, and partially because I don't want anyone to think that I sit around moping all day. But often times I feel like a foreigner out here, that I'm speaking a different language or working with a completely different set of rules from everyone else. It can get difficult sometimes, but I also have a great group of friends who lift me up on a daily basis.
Of course, with the semester coming to a close, it also means that the classwork is beginning to pile up. Thankfully I have been much better about managing my time this semester and getting some projects done earlier in the semester so that my load will be a little lighter. There will still be plenty to do, but it will be much more manageable than last year, when most of my work came all at the very end of the semester.
I have been feeling more of an urge to get out of Princeton and explore around a bit more. I drove up to Bridgewater, NJ, about 30 minutes north of Princeton, to take care of some things, but I enjoyed driving up, just getting to view some of the other parts of the state. In some places, New Jersey really is beautiful.
This evening we had our first lightning storm. It was a pretty amazing display. Crackling arms of lightning stretched across sky, lighting up the whole campus, followed by the low rumbling of thunder. I stood in the doorway of my dorm's entrance just watching for awhile. It wasn't raining very hard, so the soft patter of the rain complemented it all very nicely. A divinely orchestrated concert.
Of course, with the semester coming to a close, it also means that the classwork is beginning to pile up. Thankfully I have been much better about managing my time this semester and getting some projects done earlier in the semester so that my load will be a little lighter. There will still be plenty to do, but it will be much more manageable than last year, when most of my work came all at the very end of the semester.
I have been feeling more of an urge to get out of Princeton and explore around a bit more. I drove up to Bridgewater, NJ, about 30 minutes north of Princeton, to take care of some things, but I enjoyed driving up, just getting to view some of the other parts of the state. In some places, New Jersey really is beautiful.
This evening we had our first lightning storm. It was a pretty amazing display. Crackling arms of lightning stretched across sky, lighting up the whole campus, followed by the low rumbling of thunder. I stood in the doorway of my dorm's entrance just watching for awhile. It wasn't raining very hard, so the soft patter of the rain complemented it all very nicely. A divinely orchestrated concert.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Moving Along
The semester is over half-way done. I have finished my midterms, and now it's the home stretch to get everything done before finals week. Time has certainly been flying by.
My classes have been going well. My Children's Fantasy Literature class continues to be my favorite. Before our Reading Week (aka Spring Break), I was involved in a skit where I got to play J. R. R. Tolkien. It was a lot of fun and well received by the class. Then, in the class after returning from break, a Harry Potter expert, John Granger, came to the class to talk about the Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series. If you enjoy the Harry Potter books, you need to check out his books. I had to smack myself in the head a couple times thinking, "How could I miss something so obvious?" I have a new respect for J. K. Rowling's writing, and would actually put it pretty close to the quality of Tolkien or C. S. Lewis's writing. Later that night, our class had a Fantasy Ball where we could dress up as our favorite characters from any book in the class. I dressed up as Gandalf the Grey, complete with beard, hair and staff. I won Best Costume and received a copy of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." Definitely worth the effort. =)
That was the levity for the week. I also had plenty of midterms to work on when I got back to school after being in CA for a week. Thankfully, I think I did well on all of them.
It was good to be home, and I definitely miss it. But in 5 weeks, I will be jetting back to CA again for the summer, which is hard to believe. I think I will be done with school before pretty much anyone else this year, flying back on April 26. And then I will only have one year left at Princeton.
I'm going to push hard to the end. There is still plenty of work to do. It is encouraging that Spring is breaking in and the trees and flowers are starting to blossom. It gives a new found energy to everything on campus.
My classes have been going well. My Children's Fantasy Literature class continues to be my favorite. Before our Reading Week (aka Spring Break), I was involved in a skit where I got to play J. R. R. Tolkien. It was a lot of fun and well received by the class. Then, in the class after returning from break, a Harry Potter expert, John Granger, came to the class to talk about the Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter series. If you enjoy the Harry Potter books, you need to check out his books. I had to smack myself in the head a couple times thinking, "How could I miss something so obvious?" I have a new respect for J. K. Rowling's writing, and would actually put it pretty close to the quality of Tolkien or C. S. Lewis's writing. Later that night, our class had a Fantasy Ball where we could dress up as our favorite characters from any book in the class. I dressed up as Gandalf the Grey, complete with beard, hair and staff. I won Best Costume and received a copy of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." Definitely worth the effort. =)That was the levity for the week. I also had plenty of midterms to work on when I got back to school after being in CA for a week. Thankfully, I think I did well on all of them.
It was good to be home, and I definitely miss it. But in 5 weeks, I will be jetting back to CA again for the summer, which is hard to believe. I think I will be done with school before pretty much anyone else this year, flying back on April 26. And then I will only have one year left at Princeton.
I'm going to push hard to the end. There is still plenty of work to do. It is encouraging that Spring is breaking in and the trees and flowers are starting to blossom. It gives a new found energy to everything on campus.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Some Thoughts on Twilight
I am taking a class called "Children's Fantasy Literature and Moral Formation," and this week we looked at the book Twilight. Now I had attempted to read the book last semester, but due to my thesis and some difficulty getting into the book, I wasn't able to make much progress. I saw the movie when it came out in November and had mixed feelings about. So while I am familiar with the story, this was really my first good look at the book. I thought I'd share some of my thoughts based on my own reaction as well as conversation we have in class on Monday.
I do have to make a quick note about the writing. I wouldn't say that it is atrocious, but Stephenie Meyer will not - or at least should not - be winning any awards any time soon for her grammatical or syntactical prowess. There are some gems in the writing and particular phrases that are quite moving, but for the most part the writing is terrible. As many of us have heard in English classes, it is better to show, not tell. Meyer is a teller through and through. Often her prose is repetitive and detrimentally descriptive. The dialogue is good, but she gives too much away and doesn't allow the reader to interpret her work. For more on this, I'll point you to a friend's website for a prime example of this bad writing: http://marchon2884.blogspot.com/2009/02/theervampireis-in-details.html .
The first thing that almost immediately jumps out and attracts discussion is the relationship between Edward and Bella. This is what most teenage girls are immediately interested in and discuss the most (at least based on the research one of our Ph.D. students did in preparation for class). This, to me, is actually the most disturbing part of the book. Now, it is hard to critique the relationship fully because we have to remember that this is a fantasy world: some of the rules are not the same and not everything is meant to be realistic. But part of the fantasy world is to set up the ideal, the perfect in a certain sense though that term is probably too strong. The relationship between Edward and Bella is anything but ideal; in fact, I would go as far as to say it is dangerous. It is an example of what I like to call "Outlaw Biker Syndrome" (and yes, I did get to use that phrase in class). Their relationship seems to exemplify the idea that the type of man that attracts women are dangerous, mysterious and abusive. Edward fits all these characteristics; what's more is that Meyer seems to idolize this type of man and this type of relationship. He constantly reminds her of his threatening nature, that at any moment he could spring on her, kill her, destroy her, but immediately follows this with words of passion and love. This seems harmless, but as one high school sophomore girl raised with great insight, what if Edward were not a vampire? What if he was an everyday kid? The fact that he stalks her, watches her sleep at night, obsesses over her: these are downright creepy acts. Add on top of this that Edward is at least 100 years old, though he is technically in a 17 year old body, and this becomes a predator-prey situation.
Again, I admit that we have to take into account the fantastical nature of the literature and that some of these elements simply reflect the nature of the story. The problem is that teenage girls idolize Edward. Browse the Pieces of Flair boards on teenage girls' profiles and it is not hard to see. Or watch the movie with a group of teenagers (as I did on opening night) and it is easy to see that there are many girls out there who want to find their Edward. In this way, many critics have characterized the book as "Female Pornography." I have to say that I have a lot of sympathy for that position. If I were a youth director or a parent of a teenage girl, I don't think I would want them to read the book without taking the time to reflect on Edward's true nature and examining whether this really is the ideal relationship and the ideal man. There is really no way to control that since this is, simply put, the most popular book among teenage girls right now, and most of them have read the book. Reflection is needed on these points.
That is not to say that everything about Bella and Edward's relationship is bad. In some ways, it does reflect the model of many high school relationships. I think this is the reason why so many girls connect with the story and the book series: Bella is all too human, reflecting many of the common insecurities of both men and women. And in some ways, Edward is the reflection of the perfect man, even God: he is the omniscient protector, the omnipotent savior of Bella. And I think these are qualities that need to be elevated and discussed. The important part is to read the book critically, which is happening more than I think many of us would expect but also not as much as it should be happening. I think there are many teenage girls who do read the book with a critical awareness, but I think there are just as many, if not more, who read the book without seeing the nature of Bella and Edward's relationship at a deeper level.
I have to say that part of this idealization of this type of relationship is due to Stephenie Meyer's background. While she says (correctly) that this is not a piece of Mormon literature, it is unmistakably marked by her theology. Borrowing from one of the Ph.D. students, there are three "Mormon landmarks" that permeate the book's themes. The first is "Choosing the Right." Throughout the book, especially seen in the Cullen family, there is an emphasis on choosing the right, the morally correct thing to do. Every act that Edward makes reflects this desire to do the right, to act out of love. Deeper into the book, we realize that the Cullens represent a set-apart community that lives among the world but chooses the right. The second point is connected to the first: sacrifice. Choosing the Right often, if not always, requires sacrifice even to the point of giving one's life for the good. Again, Edward reflects this sacrificial love, and even toward the end of the book, Bella begins to exemplify this virtue as well. Finally, the theme of celestial marriage is emphasized, mainly in terms of purity. One should always choose purity over anything else, including life, and especially when it comes to sexual purity. Our preceptor quoted one Mormon theologian who said it is better to die pure than to live impure. Another quote he gave was from Mormon parents who said it would be better if their children did not come home from mission if they were impure. Again, this is reflected in the book, especially through the theme of abstinence as idealized throughout Edward and Bella's relationship. These themes are not necessarily intentionally inserted but they reflect the Mormon theology out of which Meyer is writing. There is much more I could say on that matter but I'll stop there.
Now, I know as I end this, there are many of you who are probably thinking, "Why can't you just read the book without having to get into all this crap?! Just enjoy the book!" To which I respond, I do enjoy the book. In fact, I want to continue the story because I find the mythology fascinating ... plus someone ruined the end for me by telling my what happens in the fourth book, but I want to see how it eventually gets to that point. At the same time, taking a class on the moral formation that happens in children, teenagers, and even adults, I think it's important to see how this literature functions in shaping the moral imagination of kids and adults today. And because of the popularity of this book, it is absolutely essential as Christians and as the Church to know what is interesting our kids and knowing how the church should respond to this type of literature. I personally have no problem with teenagers reading this book so long as there is some sort of critical reflection going on about the relationship between Edward and Bella. I think all the male characters, including Charlie, Bella's father, need to be examined for their good qualities and also their bad qualities, and from there there needs to be discussion about who the ideal man is. Same thing for the female characters in the book for men who read the book.
I do have to make a quick note about the writing. I wouldn't say that it is atrocious, but Stephenie Meyer will not - or at least should not - be winning any awards any time soon for her grammatical or syntactical prowess. There are some gems in the writing and particular phrases that are quite moving, but for the most part the writing is terrible. As many of us have heard in English classes, it is better to show, not tell. Meyer is a teller through and through. Often her prose is repetitive and detrimentally descriptive. The dialogue is good, but she gives too much away and doesn't allow the reader to interpret her work. For more on this, I'll point you to a friend's website for a prime example of this bad writing: http://marchon2884.blogspo
The first thing that almost immediately jumps out and attracts discussion is the relationship between Edward and Bella. This is what most teenage girls are immediately interested in and discuss the most (at least based on the research one of our Ph.D. students did in preparation for class). This, to me, is actually the most disturbing part of the book. Now, it is hard to critique the relationship fully because we have to remember that this is a fantasy world: some of the rules are not the same and not everything is meant to be realistic. But part of the fantasy world is to set up the ideal, the perfect in a certain sense though that term is probably too strong. The relationship between Edward and Bella is anything but ideal; in fact, I would go as far as to say it is dangerous. It is an example of what I like to call "Outlaw Biker Syndrome" (and yes, I did get to use that phrase in class). Their relationship seems to exemplify the idea that the type of man that attracts women are dangerous, mysterious and abusive. Edward fits all these characteristics; what's more is that Meyer seems to idolize this type of man and this type of relationship. He constantly reminds her of his threatening nature, that at any moment he could spring on her, kill her, destroy her, but immediately follows this with words of passion and love. This seems harmless, but as one high school sophomore girl raised with great insight, what if Edward were not a vampire? What if he was an everyday kid? The fact that he stalks her, watches her sleep at night, obsesses over her: these are downright creepy acts. Add on top of this that Edward is at least 100 years old, though he is technically in a 17 year old body, and this becomes a predator-prey situation.
Again, I admit that we have to take into account the fantastical nature of the literature and that some of these elements simply reflect the nature of the story. The problem is that teenage girls idolize Edward. Browse the Pieces of Flair boards on teenage girls' profiles and it is not hard to see. Or watch the movie with a group of teenagers (as I did on opening night) and it is easy to see that there are many girls out there who want to find their Edward. In this way, many critics have characterized the book as "Female Pornography." I have to say that I have a lot of sympathy for that position. If I were a youth director or a parent of a teenage girl, I don't think I would want them to read the book without taking the time to reflect on Edward's true nature and examining whether this really is the ideal relationship and the ideal man. There is really no way to control that since this is, simply put, the most popular book among teenage girls right now, and most of them have read the book. Reflection is needed on these points.
That is not to say that everything about Bella and Edward's relationship is bad. In some ways, it does reflect the model of many high school relationships. I think this is the reason why so many girls connect with the story and the book series: Bella is all too human, reflecting many of the common insecurities of both men and women. And in some ways, Edward is the reflection of the perfect man, even God: he is the omniscient protector, the omnipotent savior of Bella. And I think these are qualities that need to be elevated and discussed. The important part is to read the book critically, which is happening more than I think many of us would expect but also not as much as it should be happening. I think there are many teenage girls who do read the book with a critical awareness, but I think there are just as many, if not more, who read the book without seeing the nature of Bella and Edward's relationship at a deeper level.
I have to say that part of this idealization of this type of relationship is due to Stephenie Meyer's background. While she says (correctly) that this is not a piece of Mormon literature, it is unmistakably marked by her theology. Borrowing from one of the Ph.D. students, there are three "Mormon landmarks" that permeate the book's themes. The first is "Choosing the Right." Throughout the book, especially seen in the Cullen family, there is an emphasis on choosing the right, the morally correct thing to do. Every act that Edward makes reflects this desire to do the right, to act out of love. Deeper into the book, we realize that the Cullens represent a set-apart community that lives among the world but chooses the right. The second point is connected to the first: sacrifice. Choosing the Right often, if not always, requires sacrifice even to the point of giving one's life for the good. Again, Edward reflects this sacrificial love, and even toward the end of the book, Bella begins to exemplify this virtue as well. Finally, the theme of celestial marriage is emphasized, mainly in terms of purity. One should always choose purity over anything else, including life, and especially when it comes to sexual purity. Our preceptor quoted one Mormon theologian who said it is better to die pure than to live impure. Another quote he gave was from Mormon parents who said it would be better if their children did not come home from mission if they were impure. Again, this is reflected in the book, especially through the theme of abstinence as idealized throughout Edward and Bella's relationship. These themes are not necessarily intentionally inserted but they reflect the Mormon theology out of which Meyer is writing. There is much more I could say on that matter but I'll stop there.
Now, I know as I end this, there are many of you who are probably thinking, "Why can't you just read the book without having to get into all this crap?! Just enjoy the book!" To which I respond, I do enjoy the book. In fact, I want to continue the story because I find the mythology fascinating ... plus someone ruined the end for me by telling my what happens in the fourth book, but I want to see how it eventually gets to that point. At the same time, taking a class on the moral formation that happens in children, teenagers, and even adults, I think it's important to see how this literature functions in shaping the moral imagination of kids and adults today. And because of the popularity of this book, it is absolutely essential as Christians and as the Church to know what is interesting our kids and knowing how the church should respond to this type of literature. I personally have no problem with teenagers reading this book so long as there is some sort of critical reflection going on about the relationship between Edward and Bella. I think all the male characters, including Charlie, Bella's father, need to be examined for their good qualities and also their bad qualities, and from there there needs to be discussion about who the ideal man is. Same thing for the female characters in the book for men who read the book.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Hopeful Outlook
I have finished my first full week of classes, and I am very excited about the opportunities I'm going to have this semester. It is going to be difficult: the only day that I don't have commitments right now is Friday. But I have come to find that I work better under pressure and with a larger work load. Last semester when I had so much time on my hands, I found myself slacking off work and getting things done at the last minute. So with the busier schedule, I think I will be able to find a little better rhythm and get into a groove.
I am especially excited about my class on Children's Fantasy Literature. It is a pass/fail class, so I will have room to experiment with my different curricula without too much risk. But even more, I think the opportunity to take a semester to focus on literature will be a nice break. I will still have plenty of theological reading in my other classes, and I won't be reading this literature lightly or lazily. Still, reading something more imaginative and playful will help keep me sane.
My preaching class also excites me. The professor is tailoring the class to our own needs, even down to the reading. So it will be a personal approach to my preaching style and working to develop it.
There aren't any classes that I am disappointed about. All of my professors are great lecturers but also concerned with their student's growth, so it will be an interactive, challenging, and engaging semester.
I am also working to secure my teaching placement for next semester. I met with the pastor from Westminster whom I would work under and discussed what the placement would like. It's a popular placement, so I'll be in a bit of competition, but I also think our meeting went well. I'm continuing to meet with others at the church, including the current teaching intern there, so hopefully by making that impression, I will be able to assert my interest a little more.
The Winter continues to wear on, but Spring is on the horizon. It's hard to believe that I will be coming home in less than a month and that in less than three months I'll be home for summer again. Time certainly does fly by.
I am especially excited about my class on Children's Fantasy Literature. It is a pass/fail class, so I will have room to experiment with my different curricula without too much risk. But even more, I think the opportunity to take a semester to focus on literature will be a nice break. I will still have plenty of theological reading in my other classes, and I won't be reading this literature lightly or lazily. Still, reading something more imaginative and playful will help keep me sane.
My preaching class also excites me. The professor is tailoring the class to our own needs, even down to the reading. So it will be a personal approach to my preaching style and working to develop it.
There aren't any classes that I am disappointed about. All of my professors are great lecturers but also concerned with their student's growth, so it will be an interactive, challenging, and engaging semester.
I am also working to secure my teaching placement for next semester. I met with the pastor from Westminster whom I would work under and discussed what the placement would like. It's a popular placement, so I'll be in a bit of competition, but I also think our meeting went well. I'm continuing to meet with others at the church, including the current teaching intern there, so hopefully by making that impression, I will be able to assert my interest a little more.
The Winter continues to wear on, but Spring is on the horizon. It's hard to believe that I will be coming home in less than a month and that in less than three months I'll be home for summer again. Time certainly does fly by.
Monday, February 2, 2009
New Semester
The new semester begins today. I think it will be a good semester with the classes I have, and it will have a different feel than last semester, which I'm looking forward to. My class for the short term was good, and I ended up getting a grade that I was satisfied with, especially for the amount of work and the intensity.
The week off was a good week to relax and prepare for the next 10 weeks of class. I didn't do anything that was really exciting. I saw a couple movies with friends, but mostly just relaxed. I visited Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester, PA, and it was a good visit. I could definitely see that as a placement that I would enjoy and gain a lot of knowledge from. I'm hopefully meeting with the pastor this Wednesday to discuss the placement a little more and see if it makes sense on both sides. Hopefully I'll have more to say on that in the coming days.
I can also now say that I will officially be a member of La Crescenta Presbyterian Church during the first week of March. I was finally able to get things worked out on my end so that La Crescenta and Arcadia Presbyterian Churches could move forward with it. So come the first week of March, I'll meet before LCPC's session and officially join the church.
I'll update everyone at the end of the week to give a first impression of classes. I'm really looking forward to this schedule, so hopefully the reality meets my expectations.
The week off was a good week to relax and prepare for the next 10 weeks of class. I didn't do anything that was really exciting. I saw a couple movies with friends, but mostly just relaxed. I visited Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester, PA, and it was a good visit. I could definitely see that as a placement that I would enjoy and gain a lot of knowledge from. I'm hopefully meeting with the pastor this Wednesday to discuss the placement a little more and see if it makes sense on both sides. Hopefully I'll have more to say on that in the coming days.
I can also now say that I will officially be a member of La Crescenta Presbyterian Church during the first week of March. I was finally able to get things worked out on my end so that La Crescenta and Arcadia Presbyterian Churches could move forward with it. So come the first week of March, I'll meet before LCPC's session and officially join the church.
I'll update everyone at the end of the week to give a first impression of classes. I'm really looking forward to this schedule, so hopefully the reality meets my expectations.
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