Standing on Shoulders
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – 1 Cr. 11:1
There is importance in a legacy of dissent. There is sacrifice that people made to hold to truth and to do the next right thing… these people did it and changed history. What price am I willing to make? What does my faith look like as it is lived out? Who will stand on my shoulders? Will anyone?
While in Cambridge we walked past and through the gates of many colleges and it was easy to ponder the wealth of knowledge in such a place. At the time of the Middle ages when the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge began there were cultures much more advanced than those in Western Europe. And yet, the the exploration, experimentation, the printing press and unlocking of the secrets of the world came from these or similar hallowed halls in Western Europe. The more advanced worldview of Asian China was too chaotic and irrational to process the systematic study of science and theology (as well as the fact that they did not believe in God). India viewed all of the natural world as god(s) and too holy to penetrate, dissect and study. The Middle East held God in such high regard that they would not print, study, discuss or dissect one so holy. Christianity gives us a worldview that informed and continues to shape culture. It started the university system as a place to learn about the Creator, His Word and His World. It opened the possibility to love the Creator better through studying creation through science. Christianity informed politics and government and changed the humanitarian traditions we take for granted.
Cambridge and Oxford are cities of colleges. Each college provided food for the soul (a chapel, vicars and spiritual life), food for the mind (libraries, classes and professors), and food for the body (dining halls, grounds to explore and exercise and even hospitals). Some of the first colleges were founded by women who could not even attend and most of the people who attended were not part of the upper crust or wealthy society.
Women were not allowed into the university academic life until 1869 and not one degree was conferred until 1948. Sadly Magdalene College, Cambridge, (Lewis’ college) was last to admit women, waiting until 1988 to allow them to participate. It seems hard to believe that in my lifetime women/girls were not allowed to have a credit card (1974), have equal access to education and athletics (Title IX). I had to wear a dress to school until 7th grade. The first woman on the US Supreme court wasn’t until 1981 (Sandra Day O’Connor). Girls today have no idea of a life before sexual harassment protections, equity in education and athletics and yet there is still so much more to be done. Unfortunately, the inequities continue in many areas but most disappointing is the church.
As I think about the myriad of scholars who have changed history after or during their time at one of these colleges I am humbled. I think about the people who have shaped me and changed the world for me. My perspective is so small but I stand on the shoulders of many men and women who paved the way for me to grow and succeed. There are some that I know personally including Linda Cannell, Betty Neilan, Ron Pierce, et. al. But there are others who opened doors like the first woman who enrolled in 1976 at Talbot, my alma mater.
We were walking and hearing about so many heroes and I found myself thanking the Lord for their moms and wives, their sisters and daughters.