A LAYMAN SPEAKS,
SOME VIEWS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PULPIT
J. Philip Landis, BSEE MIT 1948
Prepared for WCTS Meeting November 14, 2001
After foolishly agreeing to present a paper, the writer spent a great deal of time wondering what a layman, untrained in the field of theology, could possibly contribute to the Wisconsin Congregational Theological Society. It then occurred to him that a particular contribution he might make is to acquaint the society with how such a person, presumed to be moderately typical, has responded to the theology he has heard presented in the church. In addition he might indicate how he has responded to the searching he has done over many years in what he perceives to be typical writings of interest to Christians.
To the extent that it is relevant, we shall advise that during the writer's life span of seventy five years, the allocations to various churches were approximately as follows: Universalist, the first 17; Methodist 5; Presbyterian 3; Congregational 40. One will quickly note that the figures do not add up to the life span, and after reading this paper it will be a likely conclusion that the missing years were spent in some very bad places. And perhaps, worst of all, it most be told that the writer is an engineer, son of an engineer, father of an engineer and of a chemist, and brother-in-law to two engineers. Only slightly better, he is uncle to a physicist (raised in our family) and brother-in-law to another. If scientific thought processes seem to be evident in this paper, you have been warned.
From the point of view of personal reading, the writer considers himself to have attained at least an average education (as a layman). This includes the fields of biblical archaeology, history and literature of the ancient near east. Old and New Testament studies, church history and creedal development, theology, Christology, apocryphal literature, etc. Knowing the special interests of some of the expected audience, he will quickly admit to deficiencies in patristic and Congregational Church history.
In his own career he has often been astonished by the lack of comprehension some people can exhibit toward scientific concepts or principles that seem entirely obvious to him. He still recalls the amazement, as a child, occasioned by a long session spent by his father trying to explain to his older sister why the rear wheel (with the small sprocket) of a chain-driven bicycle turns faster than the large sprocket connected to the pedals. How could this baffle one who had graduated first in her class from a large NY City school?
It therefore seems possible that those who have been called to and trained for the ministry may not imagine that there are those whose responses to the "theological world" have been somewhat different from their own. It is hoped that this paper will be helpful to illustrate this difference, and better familiarize the ministry with the type of thinking that may prevail in their congregations. It is further hoped that you will be challenged to cope with us rather than "drum us out."