Sensus Divinitatis

There has been much discussion in the academy over the last four decades on the merits of the “Western canon”—the body of “great books” that have been the staple of classical education through the centuries.  There is a concern, and quite right in my opinion, that literature from people on the margins—Africans, women, and the lower classes, for example—has been systematically overlooked and deserves some attention. Especially in our globalized world, listening and learning from those beyond the mind of the white Western male is vital. Perhaps the West is now the “margins” in terms of global spirituality, and our language needs to shift.

Another pressing issue, however, is what Torontonian Jane Jacobs called “cultural amnesia” and what C. S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery“–a snubbing of anyone who lived and wrote before the 21st century. This is a kind of exclusion that very few people talk about today: the disdain for ancestors, again mostly in the West. Really, the past can be a treasure chest of lessons–both to our delight and horror–demonstrating that the catastrophic events of our day are not necessarily that novel. (See for example how David Brooks compared Trumpism of today to the era of Andrew Jackson in the 1830s).

Campus Test

You can test this in public settings. Try university students today on their knowledge of the Bible. It can be shocking how little they know about that book that has been a foundation and inspiration for the Western canon and so much more. Note that the holy book itself is not fully “Western”; more accurately, Middle-Eastern with some stories even coming out of north Africa inside it.

Many years ago already, when I was a campus minister at an Ontario university, I had one student come into my office looking for a Bible. I secretly hoped he was a “seeker” and wanted to draw closer to his Creator. But he told me he was taking a course on Milton and he couldn’t understand all the allusions in the literature, so he needed the “background reading.” Well, good for him. He realized he was missing something and began to seek it out.

I also remember another student was told by his professor that the book of Job was a fascinating book for its perspective on science and human knowledge. He came to me, looking for a Bible. In talking with him, I noticed he had some other interests (in the romantic realm) and I recommended the Song of Songs to him as well. He had no idea such erotic poetry existed in a holy book. He was intrigued.

One more story: while at a student dinner I got in conversation with a drama student. He was open to discussing matters of faith, so I asked him some pointed questions. Unfortunately, we didn’t get very deep. “I went to a Bible study for awhile,” he said, “because I needed to work on the ‘preacher’ character I often use when doing improv. Now I can use real Bible stories when I act–like Joseph and the whale and Moses and the Ark.” He was trying at least…

This lacuna is indicative of the spiritual climate of much of secularized Canada today. Christianity no longer has a privileged position like it once did–when the Lord’s Prayer was the morning ritual in public schools. You cannot take Biblical literacy for granted–or even religious literacy for that matter.  People seem to know more about the scandalous actions of priests today than they do about David, Bathsheba, and Psalm 51. Thus there are special events like “Christianity Awareness Week” on university campuses today–an attempt to mitigate the problem.

Religious Illiteracy Redeemed

Stephen Prothero’s Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know–And Doesn’t (2009) is getting old now, but already 15 years ago he quoted Gallup as labelling America “as a nation of Biblical illiterates.” He notes polls in which people cannot name a single one of the four Gospels, and where Sodom and Gomorrah were thought to be a married couple and Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. He cites that “God helps those who helps themselves” is the most quoted Bible text in the country–recognizing it actually isn’t in the Bible.

Prothero isn’t just passionate about Biblical illiteracy, although it may be the most shocking news for an American citizen. He expands the notion to include ignorance about all world religions. He says religion is the fourth “R” of any basic education. We don’t just need tolerance; we need some knowledge about each other’s faith, including some ritual, confessional, denominational, and narrative literacy. The task is urgent, as ignorance breeds fear, and fear leads to distrust, hate, and violence. We see such failure to understand on the internet every day.

“Our culture tries to restrict religious belief to the private realm in order to liberate civic discussions of political questions from religious controversy,” writes Stephen H. Webb in his now dated book Taking Religion to School: Christian Theology and Secular Education (Brazos, 2000, p. 16). But his point is now even more valid: “While some benefits result from this strategy, I will argue that the silencing of religion in education is as harmful to the democratic pursuit of pluralism as it is to those whose voices are never heard.” Religious literacy helps us understand each other, respect each other, and work together for the common good.

I had a friend write a guest blog on this subject of religion in schools a while ago. “States and schools are never religiously neutral,” Dr. Leo Van Arragon warns. Rather, they operate with a preferred model of religion that fits well into preferred social order.” He’s soon going to have a book out on the subject, so stay tuned.

What can be done? Go to church, read your Bible, start a study group on a particular book of the Bible. Take a university-level course on the Bible or audit a course at a local seminary. The internet is full of courses on the Bible–you could probably take one remotely at Harvard or Oxford and then tell all your friends “I did some studies through Oxford.”

Do the same with other religions, and take every opportunity to learn. I advocate here for visiting the houses of prayer of other religions. But in the Toronto area, this can just be a matter of daily life. I was talking with a sales representative the other day and I noticed he wore the Kalsa Sikh bracelet, although he did not wear the turban or sport the beard. We had a talk about his faith and he told me he goes to the gurdwara every morning to pray at 6 am. I was impressed.

Consider one more opportunity. My friend Dr. Brian Carwana is our local “Religion Geek” and he has dedicated his life to increasing religious literacy. Here is a video where he addresses the importance of religious literacy for police. Think of all the professions where knowledge of world religions is increasingly important: work in hospitals, counselling, government service, funeral homes, restaurants–it is quite a list. Knowing that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate Christmas or birthdays in general could save you an embarrassing moment if you bring cake and a present to a JW friend on their birthday. Or that you serve ham to a Jewish or Muslim friend.

Religion makes the world go ’round in many ways. It can be more powerful than science and technology, more influential than politics, more passionately pursued than professional sports, and more inspiring than the arts. Religion is not a private hobby, even if prayer can be the most intimate of personal practises. Religion has profound public importance, and not just in terms of hot topics like abortion and marriage. As most people will tell you who belong to a religious community: its not just a belief system, it is a way of life.