Fall From Grace

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

"Don't forget to make sure you hand in your papers before you walk out today." Professor Elias' voice fills the classroom, quieting the chatter and student's fingers clacking on their phones and computers. "Please don't get up now, I'm ready to begin."

My notes are open; my pens and highlighters are all organized and ready.

Vivian, as well as anyone I mention it to, thinks I'm crazy for taking a Friday class but it's four weeks into the semester and I've not regretted it yet. It's late enough in the day that I have time to recover from whatever Thursday night Shenanigans I was up to, whether it was all nighters watching Rom Coms with Viv, out drinking and dancing, or trying to finish an assignment due the next day. And, the class is only offered once a semester and one semester a year, fall. This time slot is the only one I could've gotten, Friday's at 11 in Ambrose building room 11-13. So I signed up, set on taking this class during my Junior Year.

"Working on the assumption that you have all done this paper," Professor Elias formally begins class. "We will be moving forward in our curriculum, discussing the creation of the world biblically and personally compared to what we know about cosmological entities."

Unlike many of my counterparts, I love college. I should modify that sentence to say, I love learning. There is something about sitting in a class or lecture hall and listening to someone more knowledgeable than yourself, then have us challenge him or her and be challenged ourselves.

It gets my heart beating fast, excitement when I connect the dots to what the Professor is saying, perhaps even before I was meant to.

"I'd like to put forth a question to you all, and don't feel pressured to answer. I'll answer it myself as well if asked, do you truly believe in religion?" Professor Elias asks a serious question to a half engaged class.

Usually there is a select group of students that participate in class. It isn't too interactive of a lecture, but when it is, they interact.

"I'm not asking if you think Judaism is real and not Christianity. Religion as a whole to you, specific or nonspecific, do you believe?"

This class is always so engaging. It makes you think, and I love that.

No one raises their hand.

"It's a tough question. I know but for the purposes of this exercise, take a risk."

When it is evident no one is going to volunteer, Professor Elias looks around and then calls on Benjamin, a boy who usually raises his hand first.

I'm more of a hang low and watch discussions take place kind of girl. If I have something to say, I'll write it down. I don't typically participate.

"Uhh..." Benjamin, surprisingly, stammers for something to say.

The lecture is small enough that Professor Elias knows us all by name. He caught on pretty quickly.

"Take a minute. No one will judge you for you response."

"Yes." Benjamin says with certainty. "I believe in religion."

"Forgive me, I'm going to go personal but, do you go to church?"

"Yes."

"And when you are listening to the sermon that your Pastor is preaching, you believe every word?"

"Yes."

"No alternative stories?"

"No."

I narrow my eyes at Professor Elias, not sure of where he is going with this.