"Higher Education is a Faith-Killer"
Posted: February 1st, 2011 | Author: Peter | Filed under: Jesus, Seminary, emergence, faith, introspection, truth | 1 Comment »A pastor told me that, six years ago. It was after I had graduated college, but a warning as I explored seminary. I remembered my father telling me sometime in the midst of adolescence how many Christians who pursued seminary education often wound up losing their faith. ”Very sad,” I thought, and so did he.
But losing one’s faith and losing one’s certainty are not the same thing. That’s what I’ve been writing about so much, for so long. I don’t believe that faith has an opportunity for air – it cannot even manifest – until certainty is finally put to rest.
I am uncertain.
Ah, here is something that looks like faith…
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
Hi, Peter;
Well, this 'education kills faith' idea is ludicrous. I liken it, since I'm a musician, to the screed so many musicians cry: "Music theory kills creativity".
Clearly, their ignorance of music theory on display, they cannot possibly know this since they have no understanding of music theory. All my students benefit from learning music theory because I show them how the understanding of music through the theory will unleash their potential, not destroy it.
Knowledge opens doors, it does not close them, regardless of the discipline, whether hermaneutics, music or art.
Yes, knowledge also brings forth questions – and sometimes those questions can shake a person's faith. But destroy faith? Only if your faith is weak to begin with and you have no certainty (as you mention). But then, if you lose faith in seminary because of the knowledge you're receiving… I would question the knowledge being fed to you, that it could so undermine, even lay waste to one's faith in Christ.