Feminism, Conservatism, Ethics, and Other Ramblings.

I had my first Ethics class yesterday, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.

I swear, I'm not sexist. I do believe that men and women are created equal, but I also believe that they are different. They have different strengths and weaknesses, which of course, varies more specifically to each person. I also believe that most adamant feminists are slightly hypocritical. They demand that these differences be minimized, but would be deeply offended if men started treating them the same way they treat other men. I realize that saying this may not make me very popular, and I also realize that I'm generalizing, but since this is a rabbit trail anyway, I'm moving on, with no apologies.

My point is, I have never really like women teachers. Now, I have had several gifted women teachers. Anyone who has sat in a class under Barb Zemple cannot deny that she is a wonderful high school teacher. I don't think men are better teachers than women; however, they do tend to be far less emotional. I really don't think that is as much of a problem in a college classroom as it is in a room full of unruly high school students, but the years have formed my bias, and I was disappointed (as horrible and close minded as it is) when I discovered my ethics professor was a teacher. I still have not met a woman teacher I really got along with. (Well, Mrs. Young...but she's much more than a teacher...she's more like a gift to all students at CLBS.)

So, to make a long story short, my ethics prof is fantastic. Not only is she one of the most intelligent and well-spoken people I've ever met, she's also ridiculously enthusiastic. She's sarcastic, down to earth, funny, and a wonderful debater. The class is, for the most part, one giant discussion over the reading, and she likes to play the devil's advocate.

Not only that, but she also chose really intriguing text books. They were not written by a Christian, which was a source of some debate in our classroom as one student expressed "concern" for the ideas this textbook was planting in our heads. I, on the other hand, found it refreshing. She chose the textbook because the author is well versed on the subject of ethics. Period.

Growing up in a very sheltered environment, in a Christian school, every text book I ever had was from a Christian bias. While I think it's wonderful that I was given that foundation, I think there is something to be said about thinking for oneself. While we discussed the text, I was challenged to maintain my Biblical worldview and give valid, logical answers that included more than "because the Bible says so", but also had Scriptural basis.

That is one thing that bothers me about conservative circles. I think often we use that phrase as an "easy out" of a difficult situation. Yes, the Bible is the ultimate standard of truth for a Believer. But God gave us brains, and the gift of logic and knowledge, and I believe our responsibility is to do what we can with that knowledge, always coming back to His Word for our foundation. This is the first time I've had reading assignments for a class, and had to really think about the morality of what I'm reading. It's not just the information I'm discerning now, it's the ideas.

I loved CLBS. My junior year of high school was one of the hardest years of my life, and that school pulled me through. It was the support and love and shelter I needed at that time. In college now, I feel academically prepared, and miles ahead of many people theologically. But I wish we would have been a little less conceptually sheltered. There are so many ideas and worldviews that I would have trouble facing in person. These are things that were written off as "bad" or "ungodly", but never delved into. I realize this is a sensitive topic, because you can take this idea way to far. But not everyone goes from CLBS to NWC. Some of my class went to universities where they are facing things they've only heard about. You can have the best theological background in the world, but it's very hard to refute something you've never faced under pressure, even if you know what is right and what is wrong.

Not that I'm complaining; I'm hardly suffering as a result of my schooling. It's just a thought.

In closing, I'm looking forward to the rest of the semester. If one class can inspire this much rambling, I wonder what thoughts will invade my head in the future?

Until Then,
Lissa Hoarn