Professor Allen and Jesus

I was disturbed by my train of thought this evening as I drove my mother-in-law to the emergency room. I thought, “How can this intelligent, gifted, man hide truths from himself? Is it because he must reconcile what he believes to be true with what he questions in his studies?” I’ve been having heartache over some of the teachings of my professor, *Reverend Price Allen. He’s a professor of religious studies at my University. I’m an older student, a grandmother. I’m deeply bothered by some of the false information regarding the Catholic Church that he tells to the class, to young impressionable students. Although I correct him immediately, the damage is already done plus he always counters what I say. If he says Catholics believe that Peter founded the Church. I say no, Catholics believe that Jesus and only Jesus founded the Church. His answer, “That’s not what most Catholics believe.”

I asked Jesus why this was coming to me right now. Jesus answered that I need to know the truth as well. Jesus reminds me that when I stand up for our faith my convictions are grounded.

Now Mom is in the hospital bed being treated for a number of ailments, but I’m still distracted, even as I kiss her and comfort her.

My mind wanders. I say, “Lord, I want to evangelize. I have a burning desire to evangelize but, please, I only want to focus on fallen away Catholics.” At that moment, if feels like Jesus answers me, "I am the Savior of all. I came for this. I died for this. What more can I say?" “Say the other 1 1/2 billion Christians also have the gates of heaven open to them.” "Yes they do." And Lord, may I be so presumptuous as to ask about all the God fearing non-Christians. What is their fate? ”Christians have a responsibility to give the truth of me to them but don't be too hasty to condemn. Yes, I am the way the truth and the life. Who will judge every individual at the end of time? I will." “My Jesus what do you want me to do?” "Be a shining light in the darkness. Walk with love among all my children. Yes, all are my children, just as you are my child. You are especially dear to me, but with great love, comes great sacrifice. Remember suffering is from me but you will be okay in mind and spirit.” Then it seemed as if Jesus said, “There is something else I must tell you. The reason you’re drawn to Reverend Allen is because he also is one of my dear ones. Remember he helped you with your faith when you needed it in spite of his flaws, now you must help him understand some important things."

This for Reverend Price Allen from Jesus:

1. Don't condemn the Catholic Church.

2. Check out erroneous ideas that have surfaced since the Reformation.

3. Open your mind and heart.

4. It’s not about you going to heaven. It's about you hurting the Catholic Church by your teachings.

5. And more: Stop treating Jews like losers. Stop making jokes about Mormons. Lighten up on Muslims.

6. Be still and listen.

Mom spent a few days in the hospital and then we were able to bring her back home with us.

Giving Professor Allen the message from Jesus was very hard to do. My son said to me, “Mom at least wait until you get your final grade!” But I didn’t wait. After our last class I handed a note in an envelope to him and told him to read it later. I didn’t tell him it was from Jesus.

My Professor, Reverend Price Allen, emailed an answer back to me.

3/7/12

Hi Katherine,

Thanks for the email address.  Having experienced hostilities for being a Christian academic at Purdue, I think sometimes such discussions as this ought to remain outside of my school box :-)

Thank you for the Augustine portrait and selection from his Confessions, as well as the kind words about my teaching, prefacing your admonition to "watch it bub!" :-) 

In terms of your admonitions, let me make a few rejoinders:

Mormonism: You're right that my criticism of Mormonism goes beyond objective, perhaps because I grew up and have an insider viewpoint.  You've met many nice Mormons and so have I.  Recall many of my family ARE Mormon.  We must, however, distinguish (contrary to postmodern thinking) between person and idea.  So as far as "give them a break," recall my claim "egalitarian about people, elitist about ideas."  The people are great, their ideas are extraordinarily hard to swallow and if false given that it is NOT even close to the biblical God (the Muslim concept of God is infinitely closer), then the idea should be challenged.  Nonetheless, point taken and I will seek to be more careful not to come off cynical.

Catholics: We've discussed the "sect" thing before and I think I made a qualified concession to you then.  While my terminology is off and I'll stand corrected, the meaning I have and reason for stating the distinctions in currents within Catholicism is because Catholics who are more critical of Reformers (i.e. Protestants) usually charge that Catholics are unified (virtue) while Reformers are divided (vice).  Yet, in truth, Catholics are no more unified (save in name and a Pope to boot) than are Reformers (e.g., Jesuits, Augustinians, Dominicans, v. Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc.)  The number of denominations that one sees in Protestantism isn't substantially different in distinction one from another than from that in Catholicism (in number, yes, but in substance, no).  Catholics wouldn't use the term "denomination" or perhaps "sect" to describe these “splits” “splinter groups” “factions” “sections” “divisions” “orders” “rites”, etc. but the divisions are just as real under whatever name we give them, and substantial, and they need to own up to that and stop claiming a virtue/vice supremacy that doesn't exist (at least not on this issue).  Also, if I've said "Peter founded the church according to Catholicism," I didn't mean that because I don't believe that-- at least not in the sense in which Christ wasn't the founder and Peter was.  It is true though that the idea of papal or apostolic succession begins, according to Catholic theology, with Peter (not Paul or anyone else), and is used in the argument for the papal line of connection going all the way back to Peter and to the Petrine gift by Christ in Matthew 16 or 18.  In that sense, only, do I mean that Rome thinks Peter "founded" (bad word for what I mean) the church.

Jews: I'm aware of your friend in class who had a Jewish background.  She and I talked about it.  I wasn't aware that I made them look like "losers."  So I'll try and be more careful about that.  But there is a reason why they have only 4-5 million in their ranks who actually believe God is real vs. 2+ billion who equally claim Old Testament allegiance and to serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Something has to explain that...without being pejorative of course (and it isn't because 7 million were killed in the Holocaust...for adding that number wouldn't make them significantly bigger).

Muslims: I do not agree that Allah=Yahweh any more than your mom=my mom.  The God of Islam is capricious in his morality, not bound by essential goodness of character, as is the Jewish and Christian God.  This is significant!  And in terms of alerting people as to the dangers of Islam, it is a matter of life and death and civilization that at least the portion of Islam be made explicit that is responsible for mass murder in every country on every continent and nearly every day.  Not talking about the elephant in the room would be, for me, and for you for that matter, possibly irresponsible and morally reprehensible given what is at stake (even if we were to be atheists).  Our media and president, of course, may want to apologize to the radicals who kill people because of an accidental Qu'ran burning whilst pouncing on and forcing Catholics to accept healthcare initiatives that violate their conscience, but I'm not willing to make that life staking mistake.  As I've said before, Muslims generally are no worse than anyone else, but there are significant portions in their ranks that make the world peace you desire to be very prohibitive. (See cartoon below). I was unable to open to open cartoon. Just as well.

I've appreciated your taking my classes and the conversations we've had.  I hope we will stay in touch!  And thanks again for taking the time for a person, in depth, constructive and critical evaluation.  I'll take the things you noted seriously.

 Blessings,

 Price

This argument wasn’t over. We continued to email each other three years after I graduated. But after a while we weren’t really arguing so much anymore but rather discussing. Once I told him that God talk is fun. He agreed.

*not his real name