Classes Begin

Finally, it really begins - I have started classes! Allow me to tell you what I'm taking, and one interesting thing I learned in each class:

Introduction to New Testament: The First Century Churches and Their Writings
Almost all of the NT writers did not write with the intention that they were writing "scripture" - i.e., something with the status that they gave the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It was an experiment: "How do I express what we are experiencing?" As such, these are writings in process - they don't have all the answers.

Introduction to Old Testament: Pentateuch and Former Prophets
It was noted by Kierkegaard that Christianity could have no other religion that Judaism as a foreground.

Elementary New Testament Greek
This class may well not be the torture that everyone expects it to be -- it may be fun!

The Tutorial Seminar
(A sort of introduction to graduate school, theological thinking, and integrating the various types of study undertaken in seminary)
God gave us the gift of language. To be human is to be creatures of narrative. We tell our stories in light of the divine story.

Introduction to Music
Musical recitation is used in the church because it was an effective way to project the voice (pre-amplification); other liturgical benefits of chanting are that it slows one down a bit (helping with perception) and it dresses things up a bit.

In addition, I have been invited to join the Schola, the seminary's choir. I think it will be fun.

I'm having a grand time -- despite already having PILES of reading to do. Time to get to work!