Do you want to walk out of Otterbein as a changed person, or are you content to remain stagnant these four years? At age 22, will you be any different than you were at 19? If there's one feature at Otterbein that changed my life, it was the religion department. As an INST substitute, I took Introduction to Religion autumn quarter of my freshman year. The class blew my mind and I was hooked. Religion courses at Otterbein open up so many questions. You may be a religious person your entire life, but you'll quickly learn that you were only scratching the surface of your faith. I had grown up in the Christian tradition for 18 years, with two ordained pastors for parents, so I thought I knew plenty about Christianity. Not quite. Allow me to offer some examples of the eye-opening facts you'll learn, especially if you identify with the Christian faith:1. The four canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are not the only gospels in existence. There are actually over 30.2. Jesus' genealogy differs according to which gospel account you're reading (Matthew 1 or Luke 3).3. The gospel of John probably wasn't written until about a century after Jesus' birth.Did you already know all that? If you identify with Judaism, you may be interested to learn that there are two separate creation accounts found in Genesis (contrast 1:1 - 2:3 with 2:4 - 2:25). You'll also be surprised at the plural gods found in the first book of the Hebrew Bible, especially since Judaism gave birth to the concept of monotheism! Is your head spinning yet? I know mine couldn't digest all this new information at once. But I was intrigued. I had to take more classes. One particular religion professor, Dr. Glenna Jackson, became crucial in my development as a Christian, student, and individual. She specializes in the Christianity courses, and I was lucky enough to take the following courses from her: Women and Religion; Paul and His Letters; Judaism and the Hebrew Bible; The Life and Teachings of Jesus; and Religion in Popular Literature and Film. She, like so many professors at Otterbein, is passionate about the material she teaches. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Plus, she has funky platform shoes in every color. Class discussions provide the most stimulating experience you can have during your career at Otterbein-even more stimulating than a donut run. The best class I ever took was The Life and Teachings of Jesus, because my fellow classmates wrestled with their faith and were honest about their questions. Even if you don't consider yourself a religious person, these classes are still vital. Religion colors so much of society, especially politics, history, and international relations. You don't have to become a "believer" to enjoy these classes. They're just helpful in developing a global perspective and understanding people who are different from you...a skill we all have to learn eventually. So, are you prepared to get shaken up? By now you've already registered for classes, but it's not too late to make the best decision of your life. Take a religion class in winter or spring, or at least sometime during your years at Otterbein. I'm not talking about the standard INST religion classes that you're required to take. Go above that requirement to truly challenge yourself. And say hi to Dr. Jackson for me...I miss her like crazy.
SARAH MARTINDELL IS A FORMER COLUMNIST FOR THE T&C.; SHE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
