It's been quite a while since my last post,and since then my life has had some radically life changing events occur. Not realy, but now that I have your attention....a new year means a new semester of classes and in my new class lineup I was lucky enough to into the religion class that I had really hoped to get in. The class is called "The Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East". I had hoped to get in this class as I really lack a lot of knowledge in the area of the Old Testament. I've always viewed it as long, dull, and having an abundance of laws and bearded dudes. Therefore, I forced myself to sign up for the class and I also began reading Old Testament books on my own in order to further my understanding of the vastness of the Old Testament. After about a month of attending this class, I found myself having to defend my personal views on certain scriptural passages. This caused me to quickly realize how stable my argument could be if it was based strictly on what the Bible says. I dont mean reading the Bible with my own argument in mind and then picking out verses that can be twisted to support my personal non-Biblical point of view. This is what organizations like Westboro Baptist Church have done. On a side note, visit to see the church's fairly shy stance on a few issues. It's a blast seeing a church so outspoken about something they are so wrong about. I digress. I mentioned how stable an argument based on the Bible really is. I've found myself looking forward to class because I know the teacher doesn't hold the viewpoint that the Bible is reliable. I have often caused her to stutter and blumber around her arguments in class by using the words from the passage right in front of me to debunk some of her views. I do this respectfully, of course, as she is the authority in the classroom, but I don't hold back my viewpoint simply because I know she may feel uncomfortable in her own small realm of power; her classroom. Don't ask me why a teacher would choose to devote her entire teaching career in attempt to debunk a book that is backed up by thousands of manuscripts, but I have greatly enjoyed solidifying my own view on a few issues, expanding it on a few others, and learning how to respectfully argue with someone that holds a position of authority above me. I'm not going to hold back an argument based on the fact that I am younger than someone. After all, in Jeremiah when God commands him to go prophesy, Jeremiah first says “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” and God pretty much debunks the idea of a young person not being usefull when he responds by saying,“Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. I mean that pretty much sums it up. If God's on my side isn't it almost humorous to be afraid of anything?
