Mason's Theology: The Sacred & the Secular

Transcript

Because Mason was a devoted Christian, her philosophy of education is rooted in the eternal questions, “Who is God?” and “Who are we in relationship to Him?”  First, God is the Creator of all things. Second, man was created to live in relationship with Him and was charged with tending the Garden. Psalm 24 says, “The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” While scripture is God’s special revelation to us, His creation also reveals Him to us. Therefore, time in nature can deepen our relationship with God. So can studying mathematics and science, which point us toward His universal truths. When we see the beauty of the seasons, the intricacies of flowers or the majesty of mountain ranges, we see the handiwork of our Creator. When we learn about His world through observation, through books, through spending time in nature, we are valuing what God values and giving Him glory. There is no separation between the sacred and the secular.

The unity of the sacred and secular was a big hurdle for me as a young person and, later, as a classroom teacher. Even in church, I received mixed messages.  On Sunday we would sing the classic hymn,

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.

This hymn gave me a sense of the sovereignty of God over this world as the creator and sustainer. All of creation points to our wonderful God. But as I pondered those thoughts, I also had to reconcile words from a different hymn that seemed to contradict the previous one.

This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

This hymn gave me the sense that I was a sojourner on earth and that this life didn’t matter much in the scheme of it all. It was really heaven–my eternal home–that mattered .

As a teenager, I began to wrestle with different perspectives on the Christian life that were represented in these hymns and other Christian teachings. In my mind, I couldn’t understand how the stuff of life–the mundane and material things–related to the spiritual--the important--aspects of our lives. I felt like I lived two separate lives: one where I would learn about the things of this world at school–like science, art, literature, math, history–and one where, on Sundays, I would listen to preaching and focus on eternal concerns. I came to wonder why I should even waste my time on school subjects or cultivating an appreciation for art and culture, when they didn’t seem to have much to do with God or eternal matters. I now know this mentality by its name--dualism. It is the idea that the material and the spiritual are separate.

When I discovered Mason, I was both challenged and relieved to read that we should allow no such separation between the intellectual and 'spiritual' life of children--that the Holy Spirit is our continual Helper in all the interests, duties and joys of life. Whether we are attending a Bible study, reading a literature book, walking in nature, doing embroidery, or working in the garden, God is there to instruct us. Mason’s vision provided a path from discord to peace. Through her I realized that all learning can be Godward movement.

Reflection

Respond to the following in the comments or in your journal:

1) Explain how the sacred and the secular have generally been organized in your own mind. Did you feel challenged as you watched the video?

2) What implications does this idea have on educating your students?

3) What are you wondering?

In Mason's Own Words

Read what Mason said about the division of the sacred from the secular, and let's narrate together.

Read Parents and Children ch.25 in its original text and/or in modern English.

Here is a picture of the fresco so you can reference it as you read:

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1) Write Mason's "Great Recognition" in your own words.

2) What thoughts resonated with you? Surprised you? Challenged you?