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Loading...I’ve mentioned briefly what it’s like to teach at a major research university, with large undergraduate classes. I’ll have more to say about that soon. For now, I should get to the point of why I raised it in the first place. But it’ll take a couple of posts; my starting and ending point for these posts was / will be to contrast my teaching situation with others that I could have found myself in, but didn’t. And to get to that I need to provide more background.
When I was doing my PhD at Princeton Theological Seminary, my one and only goal was to teach (and, of course, do research). I had three kinds of schools in mind that I might want to teach at, in this order: a Christian seminary, a Christian college, a secular school. I had been trained my entire academic career (all twelve years of it after high school! Five years in college; three in a Masters of Divinity program; and four in my PhD) in Christian schools: Moody Bible Institute; Wheaton College (evangelical liberal arts); and Princeton Theological Seminary (both a Masters and a PhD). I had very little interest in teaching in anything but a Christian school. In fact, I had never set *foot* in a non-Christian school and was more or less clueless what it would even mean to teach a subject like New Testament in that context.
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Starting/ending a class with PRAYER???!!! Do non-secular schools still do this? Do you ever, ever have a fraction-of-a-second, deeply imbedded, knee-jerk instinct at the start/end of each class to do this, still? Or has the early training in that regard all been put to rest, quieted down, debated away for good… ?
Yup, they still do it! And nope, I never have that impulse any more!
*** When I was doing my PhD at Princeton Theological Seminary, my one and only goal was to teach (and, of course, do research). ***
I’ve often thought that for persons in the field of religion and theology, a hefty dose of pastoral experience should be a prerequisite before teaching same. It really opens one’s eyes to what the church people are actually thinking (or not thinking). There seems to be a huge disconnect between those in academics and those in actual church work. There is much that can be discussed in the halls of the scholarly world but not in the sanctuary.
For young wide-eyed seminarians, it’s a real shock to go from the divinity school to the church environment. Either we leave church work (as I did) or quickly change our views to appease our employers (the church people).
It seems to me there is safety in the academic world.
I am very interested in this series of essays you are presenting. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences.
I suppose there’s safety in the academic world as students; though I wouldn’t say it’s safer for teachers than any other world. But I agree, seminary professors should have some experience out in the parish before telling others about it….
Another comment (question):
In previous posts you mention that you come from an ultra fundamentalist background to what is now agnosticism (or near atheism). and then into advanced critical scholarship and teaching with no serious church involvement.
During this time, have you had a chance to engage in any serious discussion with average “church people” (other than your students) and listen to what they are saying, and, if so, how do you deal with the almost blind belief in what you know is not historically or textually true (and that they couldn’t care less what you think)?
If so, how do you handle it?
Please understand, this is not an “attack” question…I am seriously frustrated trying to communicate what is obviously (to me) correct, historically and textually, about the NT documents (and the Bible as a whole) to people who, as one person put it, “I don’t debate. What I believe is what I believe.” End of discussion.
I deal with this *all* the time. I often give lectures in churches and talk with people there. I find that being open, honest, and having a good sense of humor opens up a lot of minds that would be closed if I went in with a sledge hammer….
Thank you…a gentle approach seems more sensitive and more effective than a harsh challenge to long held and deeply felt convictions. Being technically right is often not as important as being compassionate.
Typically what percentage of the PhD graduates from your department at UNC manage to secure an academic position within a year of completion? Has the recession of the past few years made academic jobs more scarce?
Just about all of ours get jobs. The recession has made it difficult though; I think the last couple of years our numbers have been down.
This question may be out of line , but I have to ask it . The above account might suggest that the extremely tough introduction to teaching while still researching your dissertation compelled you to develop a ferocious work ethic and the ability to ” chew bubblegum and tap dance at the same time ” a very useful skill in life . How has it effected how you handle your own graduate assistants . Are your expectations higher ( well back in my day…….. ) or do you consciously cut them some slack ( no human being should have to life the way I did……..) ?
I do have high expectations, but I don’t expect them to be crazy like I was and sometimes have to get them to slow it down a bit. Other times I’d like them to pick up the pace! But it’s all about them, it’s not about me.
What advice do you give to PhDs from your department to maximise chances of securing an academic post?
I give them many hours of advice — far more than I could spell out here! But they need to master their fields, develop enormous intellectual curiosity, learn how to communicate and to teach, begin to publish their scholarship, and … lots of other things!
Excellent post! I admire your persistence, and am astonished by your ability to do so much at once. Not to be to corny, but Rutgers allowed you to spread your wings. Your study should be quite motivational for others. I hope you save it, and it finds itself outside this blog.
cant you see professor Ehrman its all been part of a divine plan. it was meant to be. However seeing as this plan has worked against our heavenly father one would think this might be the will of satan. i guess he get up to his old tricks when god isnt looking
My guess is that your intelligence, creative thinking, and hard work have earned you much of your “serendipity.”
I like to think my preternatural good looks and stylish figure had something to do with it too. 🙂
I am laughing so hard that I have no really good response to that one. Carry on.