Who comes to mind when you think of wisdom and greatness? What qualities do you associate with wisdom and greatness?
When I was doing my undergrad I was enamored by my professors’ knowledge and ability to convincingly present ideas. It so happened that many of my professors were fervently anti-Christian. They convinced me that all the world’s problems can be blamed on Christianity and that all problems can be solved if the world adopted their social theories. How convenient.
As I began to study religion I drew parallels between some of the most fundamentalist religious (and even cult-like) sects and academia. They claimed to be all-wise and intelligent, even explaining away the sins that their ideas had led to in the past. My naïve-self failed to see the messianic complex that consumed many of my instructors. Who needs God when you’ve written books and have a PhD following your name?