Life of the Mind – Part 2

To continue my commentary on Christianity and the life of the mind I want to address another anti-intellectual stance I’ve often encountered. This is the “it’s so easy a caveman could do it” line that I’ve been fed my whole life. Granted it’s usually phrased along the lines of the bible being easy enough for a child to understand, but the general effect is still insulting and a bit disturbing. Yes, I know the verses about needing to have faith like a child, but the practical outcomes of believers never getting past the moralized version of the Bible have serious consequences. This particular interpretive stance not only often prevents the average Christian from engaging in lifelong learning and growth, it creates a fear and distrust of those who do seek to engage in such things.

If understanding the moral of the story, reducing the gospel to a soundbite, and being “spiritually formed” through fill-in-the-blank worksheets work for the kids then it must be sufficient for the adults as well – or so the theory goes. The ideas presented don’t really go deeper, just broader. So I can encounter adults who can parrot answers to me on the exactly right interpretation (read moral) of every Bible story out there. To suggest alternative interpretations or to attempt to place the story in it’s historical context is not permitted because it complicates the simple message of the Bible. Similarly hundreds of women’s groups across the nation believe that filling in blanks as to every occurrence of a certain word (in English) in the Bible and then reflecting on how that makes them feel counts as “in-depth Bible study.” Try to dig deeper or challenge the workbook’s assumptions and you are either given blank stares or labeled a trouble-making heretic. So I can have Beth Moore tell me that because the Psalmist mentions rising early in the morning to pray that God is more capable of hearing prayers in the morning (so don’t ever sleep in!) and not be allowed to question “what the Bible plainly says.” And yes, I’m sure I’m painting such studies in broad strokes but I’m just speaking from my experience with such studies.

I am no scholar. I don’t have degrees in Biblical studies, but I’ve learned over the years the need to go deeper and read a variety of sources and interpretations. I also no pseudo-gnostic to believe that if I just acquire the right amount of knowledge then I will land upon the absolute correct interpretation of scripture. But it never ceases to amaze me at the reactions I get when I offer an interpretation of parts of scripture that rely on history or linguistics that some people have never heard before. The reaction isn’t to test it and explore its validity, but to completely reject it as too complex. Why? One – it differs from what they assumed was the “simple reading” of scripture – which of course fails to realize that said “simple reading” is merely just the interpretive lens they have been exposed to all their life. Two – they are upset that to arrive at my interpretation further study and education is needed. The idea that people need an education to understand the Bible challenges a worldview they didn’t even know they had. (Tony Jones has a good discussion of this reaction in The New Christians).

People who study scripture or theology or even history are then looked upon as dangerous. We challenge the status quo and upset habits of church life. No one ever wants to be told that they are stupid and the idea that there is much more to learn about the Bible comes across as an accusation of stupidity to some. Or even if an individual realizes they have more to learn, they assume you are calling their pastor or Bible study leader stupid just by disagreeing with them. It is easier then to assume an anti-intellectual stance (hidden behind the “easy enough for a child” mantra) than it is to admit that one doesn’t know and may never know. But to me that confession is the beginning of the learning posture. I want to learn more and while at times I am overwhelmed at the amount of stuff I am utterly clueless about theologically, I am thankful for the opportunity that provides me to always be growing in my understanding of faith. This isn’t about being having the correct interpretation, it is about being allow to think critically about one’s faith without being dismissed. I personally am sick of being told that I am corrupted by education, swayed by the liberals, throwing out the Bible, or calling people stupid just because I like to think about what I believe. I don’t want to have to apologize because I enjoy and am grateful for the life of the mind. That is part of who I am and I desire to always have a faith that seeks understanding but which never assumes to have arrived.