Convocation, Margaritas(!) and Adiaphora…
September 15, 2004
We are done with Orientation!! God does exist and has grace upon us! Thank you Lord. Today, we had to sit through a ton of meetings, and then I went out for a bit, picked up water, Scotch, Yuengling Lager, and a doorstop, and got incredibly lost in Princeton. This evening, we had a class picture, fancy, catered dinner this evening, and then Convocation, with the Inaugural Address by President Torrance (who I called “Iain” when I met him afterwards…oops). I think we’re done schmoozing for awhile, and we get to jump right into classes tomorrow. We’ll see how it all goes. After Convocation, a big group of people went out to Charlie Brown’s for some $1.50 margaritas, which was a wonderful thing. I had a great conversation with Erin, who is a senior, and got a chance to talk about alt.worship, future potential for .bE @ Princeton and about adiaphora.
One of the professors gave a little sermon-’ette’ this weekend at our retreat, and everyone really was in agreement about her statement about how we need to focus less energy on the adiaphora and more on the centrals, Christ, etc. And maybe I’m just beating this into the ground, but…what in the hell is the adiaphora?? Again, we’re never going to agree. But everyone was nodding their heads, saying “AMEN” when she was talking about that, but the more I hear that now, I tend to just sit back a bit skeptically and wonder if it really works. I’m guessing that I’m going to get into discussions with fellow classmates who really got into her comment on adiaphora, but they’re going to claim that this doctrine or belief we’re talking about now is NOT in fact adiaphora, whereas, I may say that it most certainly is adiaphora. My adiaphora may very well be much different than yours, so where do we go from there? It seems like we’re right back where we began…any suggestions?
(You can find some fun pictures below of some of my friends…)
Dean and Josh. They are fun.
Fun people. Becca, Adam (with the tie that Becca got Adam from the thrift-store), Rhoda and Nick.
Guys. Josh, Rhoda, Adam, Nick, Andrew and Dean.
Guys again.
Nick meeting our new President, Iain Torrance. Pretty cool.
Tags: adiaphora, Princeton-Theological-Seminary, Seminary
Posted in General
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
September 15th, 2004 at 10:28 am
just so you know…adiaphoria is a disease of the structural intestines. it causes shakes and tremors of the bowels. difficult to concentrate in class when you are focused on adiaphoria. it may be induced by watching too many Speed Racer re-runs and cow chip tossing. many in religious circles like to scare young folk with this cause it makes them feel superior. won’t they be suprised that you are now “in the know!”
September 15th, 2004 at 1:28 pm
I have already forgotten what adiaphoria is. Who knows how this seminary-thing will go?
September 15th, 2004 at 7:47 pm
Adam,
Hmm. Yeah. Similar thoughts re adiaphora ran through my mind when she said it. Obviously, it’s an important and liberating concept, but the question of what exactly is unimportant and what’s a deal-breaker is where the rubber hits the road.
Anyway, interesting. And nice tie.
September 15th, 2004 at 10:14 pm
Okay, I have to second Jenny on this one… I skipped the retreat, and I have no idea what the crap adiaphoria is either. Should I know this word? Basically, I’m hoping that everyone else is just faking it around here when they keep nodding their heads at stuff, because I have no clue what most profs are talking about most of the time. Maybe this whole Princeton thing after 8 years in youth ministry is NOT a good idea after all.
September 15th, 2004 at 10:21 pm
The diversity of students there will literally slay you. There are so many stories to tell, and so mnay different vantage points. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Also, remember that the reason you are going to Seminary may or may not be God’s reason for calling you to Seminary. Embrace that adventure as much as you embrace the ongoing discussions and I think you’ll it a very rewarding experience. I am only a couple of hours from Princeton… perhaps I should come and veg with you for a couple of hours some time…
September 20th, 2004 at 12:02 pm
That Nick V. is one hot Ivy Leaguer!Anyways, great site!
September 21st, 2004 at 9:54 am
How about all blogs are adiaphora?
February 2nd, 2005 at 2:47 pm
Adiaphoria or more correctly adiophoria means basically indifference and tolerance. In a theological context, it was applied to those followers of Luther whom agrred with his basic religious thrust but were willing to overlook his other extreme ramblings(such as his thoughts on the Jews.). I have used this term adiophoric to describe my own position not only towards religion but also towards some controversial social issues. Whatever others may think or be is of no consequence unless they attempt to force their own agendas onto me (then I become not so tolerant and indifferent.).
April 19th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
We were so young.