Week 15
1562 words by wcantrel
For this blog, I am required to write a reflective blog seriously evaluating the course goals which I think were all achieved.
1. Give students a level of expertise in the discipline of biblical studies.
I feel that this goal was achieved because although the pace of each class meeting was extremely fast, we were presented with ways to know and understand the discipline of biblical studies. We as students were taught things that going to church doesn’t teach us and we were forced to look at the bible in a more critical manner instead of in a religious manner. In order to do this, we had to learn to separate our faith from the words and the context of the words in the bible. We were taught the underlining meanings of the stories in the bible. We are now able to hear about a story in the bible and know what is going on at that time period and also know a lot about what is being discussed in that story.
2. Provide the tools to read the bible in an academic and critical manner.
This goal was achieved by helping the students to understand that the purpose of this class was not to test our faith or question our beliefs. We had to remove ourselves from our religious mind and look at the Bible in a more critical manner. Most people would have a problem doing this because they would see that as going against their faith. I personally know that my faith is strong and that nothing that I learn in this class can tear me from what I was raised to believe and what I have been taught. Looking at these stories in an academic and critical manner allow me to understand what is behind the story such as things like Bathsheba’s ritual bath which allow the reader to know that she was not pregnant at the time which is very significant to the story that follows. There are things such as these and with the “foot washing” that allow us as students and critical thinkers to look at these stories just as any other story. Most people are afraid to look at stories in a critical manner for fear of going against God but if the reader does not allow criticism of the story to affect what they believe then there is nothing wrong with looking at the stories in an academic manner.
3. Improve student’s ability to effectively communicate and to write clearly matters involving critical thinking.
This goal is achieved through doing the weekly blogs. The questions asked in the blogs make us become critical thinkers and force us to put a lot of thought into the answers to those questions. Although I don’t think we can do 1000 words per week worth of critical thinking I do believe that writing the blogs makes it easier for us to communicate what we think about most of the things that we discuss in class and also about what we think of our fellow classmates’ thoughts and ideas.
4. Improve the world.
This goal is achieved through the project that we had to do. If there was anything in this class that I felt pertained to my professional vocation it was the project. I really enjoyed doing the project and I enjoyed the effect that it had on the people who participated. To know that I was able to impact someone’s life and give them the ability to impact that many more people’s lives is a blessing. I truly feel that I have succeeded in upholding Xavier’s mission to make the world a more just and humane society. This project was a great idea and I would have much rather the class be about the project and the implementation of the project because that was very interesting. I’m not saying that this class was pointless because I did learn a lot, but I do believe that there should be a class offered that separated biblical studies and the goal that Dr. Homan is attempting to achieve in making the world a better place. These two should not be mixed because I don’t see how well they relate.
In the faith vs. works argument I agree with both Paul and James because I believe that without faith works are in vain and faith without works is the same. I feel that we will be judged on our works and that you must have faith in order to do works and they mean something.
I felt that the best part of this class was doing the project because of the impact that the class as a whole had on so many people around the world. Whether the project was about feeding people, giving them information that they need to survive in today’s society or helping to make sure they receive the education needed to succeed later on in life we all had a positive impact on the world. Nothing feels better than knowing that you have done something to help someone to live a better life.
The worst part of this class was the blogs. This class forced us to do more work than classes that pertain to our majors. This course curriculum was formed as though this was the only class that we would be taking for the semester and I think that being required to blog 1000 words per week was way over the top.
I don’t believe that classes such as these should be a part of the core curriculum at Xavier, but I do feel that they should be offered. I do however think that the project portion of the class should be a core curriculum so every student that leaves Xavier will be able to honestly say that they were able to uphold Xavier’s mission.
This is the third time that I have had to say what this class has to do with my major field of study and I still have no idea. I understand that it teaches me how to think critically and project has taught me how to take the resources that I have and improve the world to the best of my ability.