What drew you to enrol in Beginning Theology?
I enrolled in Beginning Theology because I wanted to go deeper in my faith and my understanding of God. I wanted to explore the academic discipline of theology and find out what it had to say more broadly and more deeply. I'd had some interaction with apologetics previously which had interested me and I thought that Beginning Theology might be a good place to explore that further.
How has the course helped you grow in confidence, whether in your faith, ministry, or personal calling?
I think the course has equipped me to feel more confident in my faith; both sharing it and but also in answering questions people may have about my faith. The course has satisfied the growing curiosity I had before starting the course and opened up a world I didn't know before. It has led me to ideas, people and opportunities that I hadn't anticipated.
In what ways has Beginning Theology shaped your vision or hope for the future?
Beginning Theology has made clear one of the particular directions I want to take in an aspect of my life. It has highlighted interests, passions and gifts and has affirmed some of the next steps. It has also encouraged and motivated me to invite others around me to reflect on the questions studied during the course in my day-to-day interactions and conversations.
What would you say to someone who’s considering Beginning Theology but isn’t quite sure it’s for them?
I would say that there is nothing to lose by trying it out. You have access to amazing teaching and resources that you wouldn't otherwise, and there is no pressure to bring anything other than yourself to the sessions. I would say that if there is something that attracts you to the course, you should definitely pursue it as you have nothing to lose.
Have you noticed any changes in your life or ministry since taking the course?
I would say I have just grown in confidence and boldness in speaking about faith, God and theology.
How has the course helped you reflect more deeply on your own beliefs and understanding of God?
The course expands your mind and showed that all the questions I had and continue to have, have been explored by many thinkers, centuries before me. In many ways, it has strengthened my beliefs as it has showed me that the subject of my thoughts, reflections and questions go way deeper (and way further back!) than me. It has showed me that my faith has deep scholarship behind it, which I wasn't aware of in the early days of my faith journey. As someone who is quite analytical and loves reasoning, it has been a joy to explore my faith from this angle.
