alexis in the city

My problem with the synoptic problem

When I found out about the synoptic problem in reading for my New Testament class, I was pissed. How could I have spent my entire life not just “raised in the church” but so entirely submerged in it and never have heard of it, not even in Christian college??!

The following is a discussion question for class in which I explore the dumbing down of mainstream faith and the desperate need to raise the intellectual bar and encourage even self-proclaimed “average” church members to rise to the occasion. I know I am not alone in my story and experience nor am I the only person whose life-long commitment to organized religion is hanging by a thin, tenuous thread because of the way this institution has traditionally handled issues of faith and intellectualism.

Discussion Question: How well acquainted are people in your congregation with the “Synoptic Problem”? If ‘well’, how does it affect their view of Scripture? If ‘not well’, do you believe it is important to acquaint them with it (and in what context)?

To my knowledge the people in my faith community aren’t acquainted with the synoptic problem at all. I was raised in a Christian home, went to Christian school my entire life including college, and this was completely new information to me. I can only assume that this must be something that’s not taught as part of basic – or even semi-advanced – Biblical instruction.

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My Reverse Childhood

I was born 30. At least. And in some ways I’ve continued to age to the point where I’m now somewhere in my late 50’s. In terms of my social life I am and always have been pretty lame. I never partied and never really wanted to. I never experimented with drugs or sex. I went to class and went to bed on time. I ran for student government … blahblahblah. You get the point.

I’m slowly catching up in some areas - I played beer pong for the first time last weekend with my neighbors - but I’m still that girl who brings wine to a kegger. More than once. And I know some people think all this will catch up to me and sometime soon I’ll become a raging partier with more rebellion than sense. It could happen but I’m skeptical - in part because I’m living my childhood now, and I kind of think I appreciate it a lot more.

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