Shalom

Currently, my soul mate, sister and best friend is in the Holy Land studying things far beyond a single human's capacity (or any human for that matter) to process. So the email thread has lengthened after each reply. We are averaging 2400 words per week.

Opportunities to hear Zionist leaders, Protestant scholars, and the Palestinian perspectives all voiced with equally flagrant conviction, she is left in an intellectual quandary that seems to poke holes in her spiritual canteen. It's next to impossible for her to believe her American Presbyterian theology could hold water in such a desert climate of academic discourses, people groups' history and persecution, and the pursuits of freedom.

How do you stay strong? 

You ask yourself this question when your personal convictions seem filleted by German, Marxist philosophies, comparative textual criticisms and a myriad of other bombastic academic vantage points. Two years ago, I had the privilege to take a class with a distinguished professor and New Testament scholar, Bart Ehrman, which left me asking this question. My sister experienced this just recently after hearing Ronen Shoval, a Zionist leader and society founder, speak about the American spirit of capitalism, adopting a Weberian stance on the detriment of Protestant ethic.

So here's an excerpt of my electronic reflections. Do with them what you will.

"In regards to Shoval, what a challenge but privilege indeed it must have been to hear him speak with such conviction. For him to quote Weber seems like such a staunch and pessimistic stance to maintain alongside his Judaism. Sure, it provides him the perfect anti-Christian accusation, and Weber's argument for the Protestant Ethic is convincingly sociological, but wow! that is such a harsh conclusion to draw and orientate himself around permanently while leading a movement of people. I'm sure you see this a lot amidst the conflict there, though...I wonder how that effects his personal life - weird question, but seriously. I often wondered that same question with Ehrman...flaunt your peacockal (new adjective) academic feathers at me all day, but when you go home to your brazen combative conclusions validated by years of study and degree, do you lie on a bedrock of peace or turmoil? 

While the expanse of our own intellect is far less outstretching (seemingly) than someone like Shoval or Ehrman, we advance through life and philosophical venture with the foundation of God's Sovereign immutability that Lords over human brain power. And with that as our True North, per say, then sadly we see people ranking far above us who are 180 degrees south and pressing full steam ahead in their error. Problematically, the development of the institute of religion as a powerful sociological force that defends the slaughter of people groups and endorses persecution is one that will continue. And scholars will huddle around these historical watermarks, dissecting and analyzing motivators, tipping points and even pointing fingers at leadership and doctrine to attribute causality instead of seeking curability. And since we know the Great Healer that (simply put) desires nothing more of His children than surrender, the perpendicular nature of theirs versus our understandings is so clear. 

For me, venturing into the academic circles of debate discourse is where I see the need for Truth more than any other, that and the working world where Truth is being suppressed and contorted to endorse flagrant wrong pursuit of venture and capital...so we have to go there and mend the divide that is the sacred versus the secular. For you, there, right now, I can imagine this is a perplexing thing that will leave your heart reeling for a lifetime for these people. To approach someone like Shoval is to cast off inhibitions greater than your differences and to try and "play along" intellectually with confidence, knowing that you have been given "the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col 2:2-3)"

Pictures she has posted in and around Jerusalem. 

Check out her blog.