Learning the faith is no trivial pursuit

By Mary Regina Morrell
© Catholic Online 2005

"Do not say: 'When I have leisure I shall study,' perhaps you will never have leisure." Rabbi Hillel, one of the most influential scholars in Jewish history.

We live in a culture of first impressions, and so, as a student of Jewish Christian studies I was dismayed when I recently discovered the book Judaism for Dummies, Being of Arab descent I was equally dismayed to read of The Koran for Dummies. Somehow the rich and sacred subject of the books seemed trivialized in being coupled in the title with the words "for Dummies."

And so I was not surprised by my own negative reaction when I recently read an article in a local diocesan newspaper introducing a new book, Women in the Bible for Dummies.

As a person deeply enmeshed in spiritual formation and religious education for adults, I am always grateful for new formation tools for adult Catholics. Given this, I look with both appreciation and concern for the growing number of "Dummies" books entering the market for Catholics.

My own experience with adult Catholics has shown that they are anything but dummies. In addition, my own work with adult learners has routinely proven that they will rise to the expectations set for them - and so I would never entertain an implication that they required a book "for dummies." I believe both the content and the reader should be approached with great respect.

And though I do believe the catchy book titles are truly meant to promote sales rather than be condescending, I would like to offer the perspective that some things just don't fit well with "for Dummies." Some, like The Koran for Dummies, are already in print. Others, I believe, would not be well-received.

Take for example, Grieving for Dummies, The Priesthood for Dummies, The Religious Life for Dummies - obviously very profound subject matter that doesn't lend itself well to a format often referred to as "lite" reading. Sometimes "lite" fare leads to a misrepresentation of trivial fare, and our faith, especially our Scripture, is never trivial.

As a religious educator who believes that a foundation of information is meant to form and, subsequently, transform the heart of the learner, I believe, also, that the nature of certain subjects necessitates a profound understanding of the philosophy, principles and values at their core, as well as an approach serious and reflective enough to impart the importance and sacred nature of the material to prospective readers.

First impressions are often hard to dispel, and in this case, is a challenge made more difficult when supported by the book's own premises.

As pointed out to me by a well-respected professor from a renowned New Jersey Catholic college, the newspaper article made apparent some faulty reasoning, citing an important thesis of the book that, "the Church has always supported the role of women by the fact that there are several women in the Bible . . ." The professor's e-mail concluded, "I posted that line from the article in my online graduate course to illustrate errors in argument."

So, for those who are interested in further reading about the many women included in the Bible as well as the many women integral to our own Church history, I have found the following books to be a great resource for education and serious reflection:
Women Shaping Church History, Lyn Fiqueroa, Harcourt Religious Publishers;
The Story of Ruth, Twelve Moments in Every Woman's Life, Joan Chittister;
The Women's Bible Commentary (Newsom and Ringe, eds.) and After the Apple: Women in the Bible (Hardcover) by Naomi Harris.

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director, Office of Religious Educationp, 732 562.1990

Email

mmorrel@diometuchen.org

Keywords

learning, faith, trivial, dummies

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