Features

     On a fine October Friday evening, staff and faculty alike met in the St. Scholastica library’s Raven Room to listen to Dr. Comstock present on Despair, Blasphemy, and the Hardened Heart. The evening began with introductions by Dr. Quarmby, and Comstock herself expressed gratitude for the grant and the library staff that made her research into this topic possible. 

     Comstock began her presentation with the heartwarming story of her cat, Drifter. Drifter had been lost for two months but was found and rescued from the sewer; he is safely back home with Comstock. This happy reunion story even made the news and was the perfect way to introduce some warmth into a presentation concerning an intimidating topic.

     After this uplifting story, Comstock posed a question that philosophers and theologians have been asking for centuries: what is the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit that is mentioned in Mark 3:28-29 and other sections of the Bible? 

      Comstock began by detailing the medieval idea that an unforgivable sin rested heavily on the sense that someone is capable of willful wrongdoing. Wilful wrongdoing was defined for us as an instance where a person voluntarily chooses what is wrong with full knowledge that what they are choosing is wrong. Also a key component of the unforgivable sin is sinning unto death. 

     In her research, Comstock has found that the first interpretation of what this unforgivable sin consists of is spoken blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Another component of the unforgivable sin is opposing grace in one’s heart. Later, this idea of a heart opposed to grace takes stronger hold as the definition of the unforgivable sin. In this definition, the unforgivable sin contemptuously rejects what would otherwise prevent someone from further wrongdoing.

    While Comstock is not yet finished with her research into this topic, her presentation was both enlightening and thought provoking. It is with anticipation that we await Comstock’s return to the SAS Colloquium lecture series. However, we may have to wait quite a while as there are many other speakers lined up. Be sure to attend the next Colloquium to hear Dr. Heather Brown discuss her research on northern Minnesota contaminants on Nov. 8th.