There are 15 posts filed in General (this is page 3 of 5).
One of the nights last week we had the single guys over for stir-fry, wine and beer, and treats. One of our classmates got lost in the woods (so we thought) and the party got off to a late start. We had a great time and I kept the party going late with a heated ethics discussion with another classmate. Go figure!
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There is not much to report here. We’ve been continuing our course with a routine of waking, sleeping, and eating. This class continues to be interesting, and I hope once we lay the groundwork we will get more interaction with our two cultures. One of the differences is the vacuum left from the Soviet era. In their own words, in this vacuum they are adopting modernity wholesale. This has been nowhere more evident than with technology. Cell phone usage is at least as heavy in the States and probably more so. Our car has navigation system. The Seminary has high-speed internet. What was an isolated, distant land has become as modern, connected land. Interesting though that our Russian classmates lament this swallowing of modernity. What they recognize is that the modernity isn’t just technology but it is an ideology. Critical use of modernity is a fallacy in their opinion. Adopting in part ultimately results in gulping the whole pill.
The second day of the class is complete. As with yesterday, the interaction of theological ethics and the American and Russian students is fascinating. Our professor asked the class if there were discussions after the collapse of the USSR in regards to abortion. They said the Soviets legalized abortion in the 1950’s in reaction to the number of occurring underground. When the USSR fell, the persisted with the status quo. Its not off the radar map but there has not been a Christian ethic for over half a century nor the opportunity for change. One of the deaconesses helps operate a crisis pregnancy center but discussions are definitely not widespread. Contrast this to America where it is on the front burner in political bantering.
