Reading outside your tradition

Posted on by Dave

One of the things Bible college did was teach me to read outside my church tradition. By this I mean do not just read things that are written by people in your denomination.

The Bible college I attended had lecturers from across the Christian traditions. We had people from evangelical, pentecostal, orthodox and even catholic churches as lecturers. Most were open to tell us which tradition they came from, some would not tell us. They wanted us to try and guess during the semester.

I found this really helpful in understanding what people and various churches taught. I think it made me more open to learn and to help me solidify some of my own beliefs. It also showed me that we have way more in common than differences.

For one of my theology units we used the textbook “The Mosaic of Christian Belief” by Roger E. Olsen. It took a topic and broke it down as follows for example on creation…

  1. Issues and polarities of christian beliefs about creation.
  2. The consensus christian beliefs about creation.
  3. Alternates to the christian consensus about creation.
  4. Diverse christian beliefs about creation.
  5. A unitive christian view on creation.

Looking at topics from this perspective gave us a broad overview of what christians believe today about an issue and positions held down through the ages.

Since finishing Bible college I have continued this habit. Last year I read a number of books from the Catholic tradition, this year I am reading more Anglican books and catechisms.

Some might think of this as not helpful or even a little bit “dangerous”, but I do it through the lens of Bible college and being well formed in my beliefs. I can eat the meat and spit out the bones as they say.

Being open to other traditions has helped me to read the early church fathers, read the catholic and anglican catechisms, read about the lives of the Saints, and about praying with the catholic rosary and anglican prayer beads.

Reading from other traditions has helped me grow in my faith. Not only do I understand different positions a little bit more, but I have learned and incorporated new things in to my personal faith.