In Review...

For my last blog on our Christianity course, I wanted to review (for my own sake) the biggest things I’ve learned and the main things I hope to remember from this course.

What comes to my mind first is the idea of “holy” from Otto’s book Idea of the Holy. (Go figure.) I hope I always think of the words numinous and mysterium tremendum when I encounter the spiritual through art or nature, and that I am always open to this radical definition of the holy which extends so far beyond “sinless.” I think Otto’s ideas are excellent, and love how he has expanded my view of God.

The second idea that has really challenged me this semester is a new view of communion. Although we only discussed it one day in class, I have really latched on to this new way to think about the bread and wine and am excited about what I’ve come up with. I love thinking about communion as a way for Christ to indwell in us, individually and as a community, and for us to participate in a “sacred energy exchange” to live our lives for Christ, since he voluntarily gave up his for us. Every time I take communion, I am not only remembering Christ’s death, but I am allowing God to place a part of himself in me.

The last thing that I have really learned this semester is the history of the reformation, and in particular Jan Hus’ involvement. I have never been very clear about the reformation of the church, but I now think of the timeline of the three main characters: Wycliffe, Hus, and Luther, and I can remember and understand the process much better.

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