06.01.07

Concentration Camps

Posted in books, family, ministry at 8:00 pm

I have been reading a classic C. S. Lewis book called Surprised by Joy. It is, as he calls it, his autobiography and the story of his conversion. I’m only a few chapters in, but the second chapter, called Concentration Camp, talks about life at a boarding school he attended as a boy. I’ve known a lot of missionaries who, not having any schools to send their kids to in the country where they serve, have also sent their kids to boarding school. The results of such an education are decidedly mixed. Some who I know have done great in this kind of learning environment, some not so well.

C. S. Lewis vividly explained the tyrant that he had as a teacher at his school. This man, a supposed religious person, routinely beat the students with a cane pole. Any mistake was grounds for punishment. Lewis’ description of his teacher, who the students called “Oldie,” is enough to scare anyone away from religious education. As I read the chapter, I thought of my mom, who has often told us how teachers in her high school mistreated the students. Instead of encouraging the students to learn, they scared the students into submission. To this day, my mom, an intelligent person, has doubts about her abilities because of what several “religious” teachers told her.

I think it’s a miracle that C. S. Lewis walked away from his experience and was able to move on and grow in his faith. Unfortunately not every student in a similar position can say the same. Our work in Italy involves a certain amount of religious education. It’s my prayer that our education inspires people toward a relationship with Christ, and doesn’t scare them into some sort of “holy” fear.

Permalink