While I was a missionary in Russia, I was at odds with some of my fellow missionaries. They took the view that there was no better thing for the new Russian believers to do but abandon there plans for university educations and to attend Bible colleges. Often I was alone in supporting some of the brighter young people to follow their dreams. It seems to me that one of the drivers of this thinking that all one needs to do is study the Bible, there is no need to study anything else, and higher education is unnecessary is the emphasis in many circles on the teaching that the Rapture will happen at any moment. Given that scenario, why bother spending four years in a university when you could be out preaching? Theological issues aside, the results of spurning higher education are far-reaching, as Mangalwadi described.

Terrific article! It succintly addresses both the cost and the consequences of politicized faith. It also shows how libido dominandi (the lust to dominate) can corrupt even noble intentions and how language and influence can become twisted into tools of manipulation.