Scene: Dinner Party. Guests and hostess are gathered around the pool table.
Graduate: So what is your project on?
Me: Towards a Pauline Ethic of Contentment with Special Reference to Singleness.
Graduate: *Snickers*
Me: Why are you laughing?
Graduate: No, no, its nothing. (Turns to other 4th year student) So what are you doing your project on?
4th year: (names his historical theological topic)
Graduate: hmmm, interesting. (nods in affirming manner)
Me: So his topic gets the approval, but mine gets laughed at? (grins at him and places hands on hips) Why?
Graduate: It just sounds as though it is in danger of being polemical.
Topic of conversation changes.
--
Me (this morning): *groans with frustration*
Topics that fall into categories other than theology or historical theology (the bulk of projects being done this year) are still worthy of study?
And simply because my project topic has an obvious practical bent doesn't devalue its worth.
So let's think about the definition of polemic for a moment. Check it out one definition here.
Is my project in danger of being polemical?
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3 comments:
In danger of being relevant is its biggest problem.
Lots of things can be polemical, but it's often because of people's attitude to the topic and the way they talk about it, rather than the topic itself. Contentment and singleness are great topics to study and talk about, surely - but the way they are presented and the way people receive them could mean they start more arguments than some other topics. They often hit close to people's hearts too I guess, so can be taken personally.
To me the way forward is not to discard the topic, but to tackle it in gentleness, grace and love. I for one am looking forward to having contentment put back on the agenda a little bit more from this discussion...
:)
byron, JT: thanks for your words!
and to those other lurkers who have encouraged me and spoken to me this week at college, much thanks.
It has been a reminder to me that simply because a work has obvious practical implications doesn't lessen its academic credibility.
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