An Argument for Religious Academia

I am often struck by people’s sense that academic study of sacred texts somehow threatens them.  Firstly, I think that such a position shows a lack of “faith” in the text and one’s tradition to withstand criticism.  Secondly and more importantly for me, however, is that in my understanding, if I believe that my sacred texts are sacred and reveal anything about God and/or have core insights into the human condition, I should study them from every angle, which involves applying the lenses of different disciplines and the best strengths of humanity to the text.  As a person in a committed relationship, I can’t imagine suggesting that I shouldn’t know my partner deeply and understand his stories, even if they reveal some of his problems.  It is precisely because I love him that I want to deal with those problems.  It seems strange to love a text and want to turn a blind eye to it at the same time.