a theologian's job_description

It thrills the heart of a theology student to read this weekend's edition of probably to most intellectual and socially analytical Danish newspaper, Weekendavisen [directly translated: the weekend-newspaper], as three of the major articles are about the renaissance of religion in European society and politics. The basis for two of the three articles is the well-known issue of the large and increasing immigration of Muslims to Europe and the resulting cultural change of such a large minority, while the point of reference of the third article is the much debated speech of the Pope in his former university of Regensburg. The common ground then of the three articles is the clash of cultures, European and Muslim.

The articles all express the growing need for western societies to be aware of their identity, but this is a grave problem as the cultural key-word in the European mind is individualism. No longer do we define ourselves in terms of our context, family, city, country and religion, but rather we define ourselves solely as ourselves. A rather symptomatic example of this is the story of Sheila, who said she believed in the supernatural but wouldn't confine herself to one religion and instead just declared that she believed in 'Sheilanism.' Or when one of the Danish ministers was interviewed a couple of years ago saying, "The trouble with society nowadays is that as soon as you give people another privilege, you cannot take it away again. People instantly claim it as a right." We are no longer commited to the welfare of our group but we have become egocentric and primarily eager to fend for our own individual welfare.

This is largely, if not entirely, due to the secularisation of the average Joe. For years it has been commonly regarded as a personal weakness, a breach of character, to confess oneself believing in anything supernatural. "We were taught that religion was but an embarrassing left-over from the infancy of humanity that would disappear as we grew more modern, free and enlightened. But we had to think again: the public sphere is now so pervaded with religion that [atheistic philosophers] are talking of a "post-secular society."

Yes, times are changing, the pendulum swinging back, and as Weekendavisen puts it,
"secularisation has proved morally bankrupt: ... while the bloddy, confessionally charged Thirty Years War from 1618-1648 made Europeans see the wisdom in seperating the church and the state, so the ungodly 20th century, the epoch of fascism and communism, has made us painfully aware of the danger in completely expelling religion from politics: the result was totalitarian, political substitutions for religion and a fatal elevation to godliness of the undiluted power of a state that is not accountable to anyone but itself."

The point is that people cannot define or understand themselves without absolutes. And tieing up the boat again, that is part of the job-description of a theologian in a "post-secular" age.

See Weekendavisen.dk articles, "Det famlende Europa", "Klokkerne ringer" and "Kristenheden eller Europa". All in Danish, of course.

zeitgeist

In Danish we have a wonderful word, "ildsjæl." Its actually two words as you can in Danish almost freely combine words to fit your meaning. As said, two words combined: "ild" and "sjæl." The first means 'fire' and the second, 'soul.' So, 'fire-soul.'

This stated to drive the point that I am not one of these. (Oh yes, 'fire-soul' is used descriptively for persons.) I realised tonight that I do not really have a passion - for anything. Well, this is slightly exaggerated; my girlfriend has the ability to create a storm and so does my family, but nothing else really.

I wish I was passionate beyond belief about something. Music, the Trinity, swimming, reading, knowing, seeing or 'just' an avid fan of a football team! But all of these are merely in category with so many other things that I enjoy placidly when the mood catches me. I am not obsessed. I am not compelled by.. what? mood? recognition? proving myself to myself? self-discipline? love? need?

No, what I am compelled by is 'ought'. I feel very deeply that I ought to 'realise myself' and fulfill my potential. I need to do this for myself or I'll look back in 60 years and regret not driving myself to the max. But where does this feeling originate from?

I am not under the impression that anyone living a century ago would have thought these things. None of the old litterature implies one having to stretch one's arms as far as they could go so one could actually know how far one's arms could go. It'd take up too much space and be a waste of effort. In contrast, I've been exhorted all my life to constantly and diligently exercise the joints in my upper body with the explicit purpose to give myself maximum arm span. I probably won't ever span as far as John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn or even Gavin Degraw, but "its okay, I did my best."

Not okay.

Living my life to try to run as hard and far as I can in just any direction won't do. Like the rest of humanity throughout all centuries, I need direction first and foremost. After that, I'll do what I can to go somewhere and get something done.

Running for the sake of running is not a timeless Truth. Its a current fashion that's only been regarded as 'the way to go' for less than 1% of the time man has been civilised. That's not exactly standing the test of time.

So I don't wan't to believe I am at the center of the universe. I'm to bloody insignificant. -and yes, that's a very, very good thing.

To Montreal

My deepest, deepest condolences to Montreal and the rest of Canada! As I read the articles I cannot but imagine the scene against the backdrop of my university. May you numerous victims and the families of the two deceased find peace again.

I join my voice to the choir of prayer and thoughts that sounds around the world for you.

At Uni

I have started studying Theology at the University of Aarhus - the second largest University of Denmark. In fact, I am in the auditorium now, having time to jot this down because there's a debate about the two natures of Christ (man or God?) going on which is non-essential.

Fascinating, isn't it?! Half a year ago I would have travelled to the other side of the country and paid an entrance fee to attend such a lecture (its about the church fathers, really, but this debate is drawing out because of an adamant student) but now I'm actually getting paid by the Danish government to study this!

And I mustn't fail to tell you of how beautiful the facilities are here: coffee kitcen placed very central where anyone can keep their mug and jar of instant coffee and make coffee whenever. -so right now, there's a steaming cuppa beside me. There's wi-fi everywhere of course (although they haven't given me my access code yet) and the whole building is from... its new anyway!

I like this.