Look! An Update!

Hey there,

Time keeps on ticking right along, and I figured it was time for an update. First off, happy Memorial Day to those of you reading from the States. It is truly a day to be thankful and to remember why America is 'the land of the free and the home of the brave.' Freedom does not come, nor remain, without a cost. Here is a song that helps me reflect on Memorial Day: Find the Cost of Freedom

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In terms of an update I have a few points of interest to share with you. To start, I was recently elected President of the MCR at my college. MCR stands for Middle Common Room which is Oxonian for graduate student council. I am excited to be serving in this capacity for the rest of the Spring and then again in the Fall. I may be back for all three terms next year, but I am not sure yet - more on that another time. In other news, I am working on two new papers. The first is on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Biblical interpretation in his work Discipleship. I completed my undergraduate thesis on Bonhoeffer, so it is nice to be working on his thought once again. It has been interesting to look at the field of Biblical hermeneutics to see how the Bible has been interpreted throughout history. The other paper will be an analysis of sociological methods for studying the Holy Spirit in congregations. I will be sifting through various studies on Charismatic churches, religious experiences, spiritual phenomena, and the methods themselves and recommending the best approach for future studies. This paper is of great interest to me because I plan to conduct my own sociological study of the Holy Spirit next year for my thesis. My plan is to compare the role of the Holy Spirit in different denominations, and I am particularly interested in the role of the Holy Spirit in conversion and initiation experiences.

It is incredible to me that nearly an entire academic year has passed by. I will be flying back home for the Summer in just a few short weeks, and I am looking forward to being back - even though I hear its been 95˚F! Enjoy the last day of the month and the new month ahead!

Tim

Trinity Term Begins

Hi folks,

It's been a while. I hope you are doing well. I am back in Oxford for the final term of the academic year - Trinity Term. A time when most students are preparing for exams and preparing dissertations, yet I am still going along at the usual pace. I do have a substantial 7,000 word essay due in a week, but before I get to that I have some travels to tell you about!

Adam, my good friend, or as he might say, bro, made the trip across the Atlantic with me and stayed for a brief yet memorable week of adventures. After getting some sleep after the flight to overcome the jetlag (which we never did quite overcome) we made a trip to London. We saw the large clock there, the Queen's house, and some very nice museums - the Victoria and Albert Museum was particularly nice - and we walked a lot. We probably walked about seven miles or so, maybe more, in the rain...heavy rain. But, hey, it's England - part of the experience. Anyway, we went back to London again a couple days later and we walked just as much...but this time it was sunny! We ended up going to three church services, and Adam was able to meet Nicky Gumbel, the creator of the Alpha Course. Finally, for Adam's last full day here we made a trip to Stonehenge (waiting for Adam to post pictures on facebook, hint hint). The stones were nice, but I think I liked the sheep even more!

Inside of the Oratory of St Philip Neri,
Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Victoria and Albert Museum

Now that Adam has made it back home safely, I am back to the old academic grind. The paper that is due next week is for the Doctrine, Context, and Practice section of my program. My essay is called Recovering the Initial Christian Experience: A Critical Exploration of the Doctrine of Conversion in a Catholic Context. I didn't want to title to be so long, but I had to be specific with the doctrine and the context so that's what I have. At any rate, I have really enjoyed doing the research for and writing this paper. It is all about exploring the doctrine of conversion from a few different lenses and then applying those lenses to different aspects of Catholicism. Over the years, I have found there to be a gap in the Catholic Church between doctrine and experience. This paper has given me a chance to look at how the that gap may begin to be filled.

Well, I think that's enough for now. Enjoy the day, and I'll try to be back in touch soon.

Truly,

Tim

Half Way Point

Hello there!

It's been too long - sorry for the delay. Half of the term, and, for that matter, half of the academic year has passed by already. I guess time flies when you're studying applied theology! At any rate, here's a bit of what I have been up to:

I have been working on an essay about Christian conversion. The texts I am most closely working with are A Charismatic Theology: Initiation in the Spirit (1978) by Heribert Muhlen, and Christian Conversion (1920) by Arthur Guttery. Muhlen, who passed away in 2006, was a German Roman Catholic priest and systematic theologian who sought to inspire a greater emphasis on the Holy Spirit in Catholicism, while Guttery was a Primitive Methodist minister in the early 20th century. My aim is to recover the importance of Christian conversion as a necessity and also to unpack the practical implications of such a view. Therefore, my research question is: Why is conversion so important to Christianity and how can/should this importance impact a Christian's daily life?

Here's an interesting quote from Muhlen: 

"[T]he question arises first of all: how do you come to be a Christian? In the countries where Christianity is indigenous, more than 95 percent of the inhabitants are Christians, mostly because they were first baptized as children and then given Christian education and instruction. What happened in your case? Probably you were baptized as a small child and then given a Christian education in the family and in school. You learnt certain dogmas, practiced hymns and prayers, received sacraments. But, in addition to infant-baptism and education, did you take that decisive first step of a real personal conversion to God in the power of Christ which changes your life, the personal decision for Christ?"

And here's a snippet from Guttery:

“Conversion is more than a luxury, it is the primary necessity of our race. It is more than a cry; it is a conquest...We must have conversions or we perish, because the world has no use for us apart from conversion. Revival is the only antidote of death."

Some thought-provoking stuff, huh?!



In other news, things are going well with my a cappella group, The Oxford Commas. We have a few gigs coming up at the end of the term. We're singing some Simon and Garfunkel, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder. I am still involved with a few churches in the city, and I have been singing with my college chapel choir. It's really quite a nice routine I've settled into. I very much hope you are also enjoying this swiftly passing new year. As always, please comment if you are curious about anything in particular, and I will make sure to write about it. Otherwise, I'll probably write more about Christian conversion because that's what's going through my head for most of the day!

I'll close with England's most popular word - Cheers!

Tim

Humped Zebras?

Hi all,

Well, I have successfully completed one term at the University of Oxford! It went by very quickly, but it was a stellar experience. I have learned so much about applied theology, yet perhaps even more about myself. Coming to another country and being on my own, very far from home, has challenged my understanding of life in general. Moreover, it has compelled me to seek answers and find the truth - something people have been doing in Oxford for a long, long time (since about 1096)! I have not found all of the answers, but I think two more terms may very well be just enough to figure things out. However, until the next term starts in mid-January, I will be back home!

For this post I figured I would share some of the British quirks and terminology that I find, well, worthy of sharing. Most of them are just amusing, while a few are actually pretty frustrating:

• all types of cookies are biscuits
• oftentimes sinks will have two faucets
• and the water gets absolutely scalding hot
• instead of asking, 'What's for dessert?' a Brit will ask, 'What's for pudding?'
• many doors have handles on both sides - very frustrating
• when ordering a sub, which is usually called a baguette, instead of being asked, 'Would you like any vegetables?' you will be asked, 'Would you like any salad?' - a bit confusing the first time for sure
• British pounds are often referred to as quid, and pence is just 'p'
• if you ask a Brit, 'How are you?' I have found that they will nearly always start by say, 'Yeah, I'm alright.' I've started doing it myself, but I haven't developed an accent...yet
• a grilled cheese sandwich is called a toastie
• this one is great: a raised crosswalk is called a humped zebra - no joke
  
• yogurt is pronounced yawgurt, and, for that matter, pedagogy is pedagawgy
• bathrooms have three names: the loo, the water closet, and, most commonly, the toilet - I still haven't gotten used to it
• most small sweets and baked goods, besides cookies, are called cakes
• in music, instead of half notes, eighth notes, etc., they have crotchets, quavers, and semi-quavers
• shopping carts are called trolleys
• it seems everyone uses a knife and fork, but I won't give in! All I need is a fork!
• you might know this one, but just in case: fries are chips, and chips are crisps
• pants refer to underwear
• instead of looking good or sharp, Brits will say you look smart
• blazers are often called smart jackets
• for many desserts (puddings), instead of having whipped cream, it will be served with a small pitcher of regular cream to pour over the top - kind of odd, but not bad
• shrimp are called prawns
• sweatshirts are jumpers

I'll end the list there. It's been a good bit of fun learning the British way. I still haven't had a crumpet or an ale pie, but I still have time! One thing I can say is that the biscuits are excellent!

My flight home is set for tomorrow morning, so I probably won't post again until I return in January. In the meantime have an amazing Christmastime! Here's another chance to listen to my a cappella group, The Oxford Commas:

As always, if you have any suggestions for post topics, please comment below, comment on Facebook, or email me at timothy.m.nagy@gmail.com. Happiest of holidays to you all!

Truly,

Tim

Doctrines and Pubs

Hello again,

I hope you have enjoyed the first half of November. It has been a good month over here. The weather has been nice and windy as of late - perfect for a bit of tweed - and just cold enough to make me appreciate all of the tea.

On the academic front there is quite a lot going on. Last week I began the Doctrine, Context, and Practice section of my course. We started by reading about the doctrine of the Trinity. One quote from my reading was, "The more you reflect upon the mystery of the Trinity, the less you seem to understand it definitively" (Moltmann). I found this to be very true, but it was still a useful endeavor because we discussed topics such as God's agency in relation to free will, the concept of personhood, and the Trinity in terms of function, which makes more sense to me, or relationship. In addition, my first paper was assigned. I will need to select a model of applied theology and show how I would use it to explore any doctrine of my choice. Needless to say, I have a lot of options, but I am leaning toward either the doctrine of the Eucharist or the doctrine of conversion, particularly in relation to the Holy Spirit. It's not due until early January, but I'll decide soon.

Inside the White Horse

In quite drastic contrast, I also want to share my thoughts on a few Oxford pubs due to popular demand. I gave some history on the Eagle and Child in a previous post, but this time around I just want to give a brief assessment of a few pubs. One that I really like is the Lamb and Flag. I went there a few days ago and it has a great atmosphere. The seating continues on and on, yet it is very snug at the same time. The Mitre is another good pub. It is a bit bigger than most pubs in the sense that it isn't essentially a Hobbit-hole like many are, but it is a good place for larger groups. One that is certainly like a Hobbit-hole is the White Horse. It is very small and feels crowded, but that is what an English pub is all about - having a drink with friendly strangers. Lastly, I have been to the King's Arms. It is the biggest of the pubs that I've been to, which makes it a nice place for a meal, but they don't have Guinness so I'm not a big fan.

Outside The Mitre

If you ever plan a trip over here, I'd say if you want traditional, try the White Horse. If you want best overall, try the Eagle and Child or the Lamb and Flag. And if you have a larger group, try the King's Arms or The Mitre. Of course, there are many more, I just haven't tried them yet.

I hope you enjoyed the mix of topics this time. If you are curious about anything in particular just let me know and I will write about it! Just post a comment below or comment of Facebook. I might post again before Thanksgiving, but, if not, enjoy it!

Truly,

Tim

November Already?!

Hello everyone,

Happy All Saints' Day! I hope you enjoyed Halloween! It's been a while since my last post, so I have quite a few updates for you. First off, I mentioned my many auditions last time, and I am happy to let you know that I am singing with The Oxford Commas. It is a new all-male a cappella group that just started about a year ago. I'm also planning on singing with the Chapel Choir at my college. All of the other groups I mentioned didn't pan out for several reasons, foremost of which being that they are very serious about sight reading over here - something I am not very good at.

Examination Schools - I have one lecture here

In other news, I have started attending some lectures. On Mondays I have a lecture in Science and Religion with Alister McGrath, a very well-known professor - some students were even taking selfies with him before the first lecture. On Tuesdays I have a seminar with some of the ministerial students and then a lecture in Christian Moral Reasoning. On Thursdays I have a lecture in Sociology of Religion, and on Fridays I have my regular seminar for my program. It is a good mix of topics, and each has helped me realize that I made the right choice in deciding to focus on applied theology.

Another part of my new routine is my involvement in the Christian Union and with a few local churches in the area. The Christian Union meets on Wednesday nights and provides a space to study scripture in a group as well as pray together. I have also been going to St. Aldate's Church on Thursday nights for dinner, worship, and Bible study. It is a much larger group compared to the Christian Union, but I still like it because it incorporates music and a message from a church leader. Furthermore, I have been to St. Aloysius Church and Trinity Church for Sunday worship.

St. Aloysius

Despite all of these lectures and extracurricular activities, I still have a good amount of free time. However, I recently received some exciting news that will change that. I submitted a paper for publication in a journal eleven months ago, and the editor finally got back to me last week. He let me know that he thinks the paper has merit, but a few sections need some work. So, he wants me to make some revisions and resubmit! Therefore, I will be using my free time to complete those revisions.

I just have one more thing to share. Check out the News tab on the top right of the page. The St. Michael's College newspaper, The Defender, published an article about some recent religious studies students that are now in graduate school. Otherewise, I think that's about all I have to share. Always feel free to email me at timothy.nagy@regents.ox.ac.uk if you have questions, or leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Truly,

Tim

Fresher's Week

Hello again,

Sorry for the brief delay. It was a busy week moving in, settling in, and sleeping in, but now that I've done all three of those things I am ready and excited to give you an update!

I flew in with my dad from Boston to London on September 28th, and due to the +5 hour time difference we arrived at 6:30am on September 29th. The bus from the airport took us very close to our hotel in the city center, and the first step of the journey was complete. From there we continued our diligent search for an apartment, which ended on Thursday, and we made sure to do some shopping and eating. We perused some nice bookshops, department stores, gift shops, and some nice pubs. I had the best Guinness I've ever had at The Eagle and Child - famous for hosting J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the rest of 'The Inklings' for their weekly writing meetings - and the fish and chips were pretty good, too.

The week I am in the midst of now is called Fresher's Week. Many introductory things happen such as meeting some of the faculty of your college, meeting your tutor (adviser), meeting other students in your program, learning about the college library system, and so on. Today I went to my first Formal Hall - a dinner where everyone from the college dresses up and wears their academic gown. For this dinner we were not required to wear sub fusc, but that will come soon enough.

What I am now looking forward to is the Fresher's Fair where all of the clubs, groups, and societies of the university set up a booth and aim to obtain new members. I've checked the list, and I have found many interesting options. However, what I really want to join is a good chamber choir. As many of you know, I sing quite a bit. What you may not know is that my favorite type of music is polyphonic choral music - here's a sample:

With that in mind, I am planning to audition for Commotio and Schola Cantorum, and maybe the Arcadian Singers. Hopefully I will get into one of them - wish me luck!

In other news, I have found out that there are nearly twenty students in my program throughout the university. There will be four at my college including me, and the other three are part-time and all at least fifty years old it seems. Needless to say, I am the youngest by far. The program is oriented towards ministry, so many ministers and pastors apply for the program to become better at recognizing the theology that is enacted in their ministry. Therefore, it makes sense, and it is to my advantage!

Well, I'll be in touch again soon. I'll let you know which group I'm a part of, hopefully one of the three I mentioned, but there are many others. My classes don't even start until next Friday, so I most likely won't have any academic updates for you. Enjoy the rest of the week!

Truly,

Tim