Evangelical form fillers
Last night was the start of the Catholic festival of the Novenas, and outside houses coloured candles were lit making the narrow streets feel alive. The city's illuminations were also switched on and turned the river Medellín into a vast colourful display of Christmas themes. Fireworks were set off most of the evening, and music could be heard until the early hours. In the midst of all the excitement we were interviewed by a reporter from El Colombiano as to our impressions.
Back in the Seminary staff have spent the last week studying rule books. Well that's a bit of an exaggeration because I skipped a couple of days, but one day was spent on the Seminary rules, up to number 90, then part of another on student evaluation forms. The last two days were spent on how to fill in a form to do research projects. The guest speaker on research projects was a very nice wee Christian lady with a voice like Adolph Hitler in a bad mood. Rather unnervingly it carried into the gents' toilets beyond the lecture theatre.
On the criteria explained, Einstein, Gates and Marie Curie would never have been acceptable researchers. And despite the Seminary rule books, the 10 commandments are sadly left aside having led to investigations and expulsions in the past few months. Why then this love of rules? I think it's to do with the dominant Catholic culture and its scholastic heritage, which stifles initiative, personal responsibility and analytical ability. Despite its bad press there is something liberating about Calvinism.
Early Wednesday morning we fly to Panama, then on to New York and overnight to Glasgow. This will be the last email until the beginning of February. Thank you so much for reading them.
Photo: Two miles of the river Medellín reflect Christmas
Back in the Seminary staff have spent the last week studying rule books. Well that's a bit of an exaggeration because I skipped a couple of days, but one day was spent on the Seminary rules, up to number 90, then part of another on student evaluation forms. The last two days were spent on how to fill in a form to do research projects. The guest speaker on research projects was a very nice wee Christian lady with a voice like Adolph Hitler in a bad mood. Rather unnervingly it carried into the gents' toilets beyond the lecture theatre.
On the criteria explained, Einstein, Gates and Marie Curie would never have been acceptable researchers. And despite the Seminary rule books, the 10 commandments are sadly left aside having led to investigations and expulsions in the past few months. Why then this love of rules? I think it's to do with the dominant Catholic culture and its scholastic heritage, which stifles initiative, personal responsibility and analytical ability. Despite its bad press there is something liberating about Calvinism.
Early Wednesday morning we fly to Panama, then on to New York and overnight to Glasgow. This will be the last email until the beginning of February. Thank you so much for reading them.
Photo: Two miles of the river Medellín reflect Christmas
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