a journal of my adventure back to college to finish my degree

 
Philosopher With A Cause

Last week I got a 3 hour per week job with the Dooyeweerd Centre. I am a sort of personal assistant to the director, although she already has two official assistants. I am currently compiling a list of academic journals and periodicals, with contact info, relating to philosophy and law. The secretarial work itself is perhaps trivial, but I'm terribly pleased to be part of the cause. The dooyeweerdian --or more preferably "Reformational"-- approach to philosophy is one of the reasons I am here studying at Redeemer. I hope to continue with graduate studies at ICS.

Want to know more about my philosophical hero Herman Dooyeweerd? Here is a brief biography. Here is a brief and not-too-difficult-to-understand introduction to a "dooyeweerdian" approach to academics. Here is a slightly more elaborate introduction. And here is a website that explores and applies Dooyeweerd's philosophy even more extensively.
posted by Baus at 7:22 PM

 
Anniversaries

At the last minute I was offered space in the student paper to comment on the anniversary of 9/11. The article is brief, and does not flow well. But it does sum up my thinking on the matter. Do check out the rest of The Crown. You may also consider Howard Phillips' comments.

It is worth noting that today (Sunday sundown to Monday sundown) was the tenth day of the month of Tishri, the Abrahamic year 5763, formerly The Day of Atonement.
posted by Baus at 7:07 PM

 
Among the Children

I am 29 years old. This makes me about a decade older than most of my fellow students. Before coming here I worried that this would be a significant social obstacle. I worried that the students would find me strange and out of touch. I feared that they would consider me an outsider. However, this isn't quite how my age has presented a problem.

Instead, I am experiencing a sort of constant vague deja vu. The behavior I see and conversations I hear are all oddly familiar. I'm left with a general sense of "done that," and I find within myself an uncharacteristic lack of sympathy. After three weeks I'm bored with reliving this past stage of life. I want to be with my own kind --adults who are basically adjusted to the world, and going through the sort of things I'm going through. Life here is excitingly new for most of the students, and I'm just not feeling it.

There are infamously bad moments, when I am violently nauseated by the juvenile attitudes and behaviors (especially when directed towards me). But there are also more sanguine moments of reciprocity and mutual appreciation. For instance, a few guys in my dorm are turning 19, the age of majority in Canada. I take responsible Christian drinking fairly seriously. I consider it a privilege to induct younger men into the world of spirits, communicating my knowledge and appreciation of various beverages. But I need not elaborate on how such activity can go horribly wrong. There are few things more annoying than teenage drunks. (None among my dorm mates, thankfully).

I am still trying to comprehend the fact that a freshman co-ed recently complained that I tried to give her "cooties" (I had extended my hand to shake when we were introduced). What can one say to that? I will try to avoid bitterness and disillusionment, remaining self-critical. It is a sign of genuine maturity to not be unhinged by the immaturity of others. I'm still working on it.

posted by Baus at 6:35 PM

 
Goodbye, Hello

The last Thursday in August I went out for a final drink with one of my brothers and two good friends. My brother offerred a spontaneous good-bye speech, combining elements from Polonius and St. Paul. Parting is indeed sweet sorrow. Although I expect to see my friends and brother again before glory, it caused me to wonder about the nature of "farewells." How can they be bitter and sweet? Why is there such beauty in sadness?

With profound nostalgia I left home, and arrived at school in great anticipation. I settled into my dorm without a hitch, met many friendly students, and began classes. I'm taking French, Political Science, Social Philosophy, Poetry and Drama, and a Senior Interdisciplinary Seminar on Metaphor. We are busy with introductions and orientation, and I look forward to getting into the substance of the courses.
posted by Baus at 12:20 AM