decolonizing biblical and theological education
How do we decolonize religious education? This is a question that institutions committed to justice and equity like the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) are asking!
Some of the barriers to theological and biblical education include money (at $809/credit hour, the MDiv at PSR costs $58,680 before fees), the ability to travel to a seminary or Bible college to study, a college education in most cases, and time (3-4 years for a seminary degree). Stackable curriculum and hybrid classes at institutions like PSR and the Graduate Theological Union are making education more accessible, but the financial cost is still cost-prohibitive for many.
Many of the young people on social media are just beginning to explore and interrogate theological concepts like atonement. Many of the viewers under 18 also live in isolated communities with little access to alternative interpretations of the Bible.
Short-form videos can introduce people to new theological concepts and invite further conversation. The ability to interact in the comments means users can ask questions and connect with others who are interested in learning about theology and the Bible.
In this first video, the Rev. Dr. YVonne Delk, author of Afro-Christian Convention, The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ opens her sermon by saying "For some reason, I thought I was going to be introduced by TikTok." She adds, "Know that I have gained notoriety by being on TikTok. Thank you, Pastor Sarah!"
Short-form videos can amplify the voices of scholars like Dr. Delk and provide theological education to folks who otherwise would not be able to access it!
WATCH the VIDEO: "atonement with peeps"
TRANSCRIPT
Karen: Jesus died for your sins.
Pastor Sarah: What do you mean by that?
<Karen looks at Pastor Sarah like she should KNOW what she means.>
Pastor Sarah: Well, there are a lot of theories about what that means, and not all Christians agree.
Text on the screen: I’ll cover 6
Text on the next screen: #1 Penal Substitution
Pastor Sarah: One theory’s that we’re all bad. This is a bad peep. God, who’s a judge, wants to punish the bad peep. But along comes Jesus, who has compassion on the peep, and takes the peep’s place allowing the peep to be friends with God again.
Text on the screen: #2 Ransom Theory
Pastor Sarah: In a related theory: God and the Devil are like tax collector peeps. And we’re all in a lot debt because of sin. Jesus comes along and pays off either God or the Devil, thereby freeing us.
Text on the screen: #3 Glorious Exchange
Pastor Sarah: Some think peeps aren't inherently bad, but they have a lot of baggage. When Jesus goes to the cross, we get to give Jesus that baggage, and in exchange, Jesus gives us hope, identity, forgiveness, and eternal life.
Text on the screen: #4 Christus Victor
Pastor Sarah: Others say Jesus was like a superhero who went to hell and defeated death and evil and sin.
Text on screen: Moral Influence
Pastor Sarah: Others say he died as a result of a natural result of a moral life where he stood up to corrupt powers. It's not just his death, then, but his LIFE that’s supposed to be a moral influence on other peeps.
Text on screen: #6 Liberation Theology
Pastor Sarah: In Liberation Theology, God sees everyday peeps suffering at the hands of more powerful peeps. Jesus comes and suffers alongside them. And then, when he rises, he shows that God will ultimately lift up others who suffer too.
This only scratches the surface, so look up theories of atonement to learn more!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am not the first to explain atonement with peeps. Father Matthew Moretz did a slower and longer video using the same ideas almost a decade ago. Sadly, his video is no longer on YouTube, but you can view his channel here.
PRODUCTION NOTES
I am dressed in my robe and stole, which is both recognizable and subversive. Showing up as a queer woman in clerical garb undermines traditional colonial church structures that limited the pastoral office to straight men. In addition, you will notice I am not standing above the audience, but sitting down with them--this made it easier for me to play on the table, but it also communicated subtlely to the audience that I am not preaching from "on high" but rather sharing information from across a shared table.
Some of the comments I got early on from TikTok viewers was their surprise that Christians don't all agree on topics like atonement. Colonialism demands one "right" and "superior" answer. Penal substitutionary atonement, in particular, cooperates with colonial notions of control and power over (see
"All Christians are Bad, confronting the sin of our complicity with white supremacy" by Robyn Wood) This video undermines that narrative and empowers the audience with the theological language they need to research more on their own.
All of my videos, including this one, also use closed captions to add to their accessibility. I add them for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with auditory processing issues, and those who are unable to listen to videos with sound on.