Hook, Line, and Sinker

Professor Chai, my professor of Molecular Biology, is from China. The first day in class, Prof. Chai said, "I really want you to focus on the concepts. That's what I want for you: to really understand Molecular Biology and be able to apply what you learn." I rolled my eyes. Promises, promises. I've heard it before.

Lo! and Behold! Hark! Test 1, Regi G scores 102. Wow! I finally got a professor that teaches to the way I think: conceptually. No massive memory work, save for remembering the topics and how the ideas go. No hours upon hours of studying, and I haven't, yet. No piles and piles of notes. I'm actually learning from the lectures! Which is great, because I do have a family.

What is the price of an A and nearly complete understanding on a silver platter? Hecklers. Yeah, no kidding. My classmates are heckling and badgering my professor. "You're so hard, Prof. Chai." "Give us the questions to the test, Prof. Chai." "You're too philosophical, Prof. Chai." My favorite: "You don't test based on the lectures, Prof. Chai." *bu-crp!* "Gesundheit." "Thank you."

Why? What is going on, here? I think what has happened is that our brains have turned to mush. I mean really. Tell us the questions that will be on the test???? We already don't even need the book.

This guy has been studying for 20 years, and he has 5 degrees of separation from the father of Molecular Biology. How could you get better than that?

Well, I don't know Prof. Chai's beliefs beyond, "I don't believe in Jesus, so I'm doomed." However, he doesn't just buy into everything, either. He's a true thinker, as I hope that indicates I am, as well, since I can pass his tests.

When Prof. Chai talks about the textbook (by Dr. James D. Watson--yes, THAT Watson), he says things like, "Why do they start at this point and talk about it a lot, even though it isn't really a good place to start? Because WE DON'T KNOW much about the stuff at the end!" and "This is the point where I attribute this to God, because it's so...it makes no sense." I don't know that this indicates true belief, but he makes no beans about what we do not know. He evaluates and scrutinizes and encourages us to do the same.

However, I don't think many of the students want to do that. Cowards. They sit in class being spoon-fed and then complain that they are not spoon-fed. What happened to critical thinking? Is this why many science students lose their faith? Even Prof. Chai seems to have difficulty with "evolution did it," at points, so why should we buy all this stuff, hook, line, and sinker?

Has science really become about being brain-dead, not considering our beliefs deeply where science applies, or considering science where faith applies, learning how to work a machine and looking up medications in a book on the job? (I saw my doctor do that, once, btw. Somehow, I never managed to make it back.)

(checking for typos? ar there eny? Nope. Okay. Publish.)