Donald V. Snider Memorial Fellowship
This fellowship will support any graduate of a Manitoba university who is enrolled, or enrolling fulltime, in one of The University of Winnipeg/University of Manitoba Joint Master's Programs. Recipients must also demonstrate excellent academic achievements. The award is in the amount of $12,000.
2021-22 Award Recipient
Jerome Falk – Religion
I have found my work as a student in the Religion Joint Masters program to be enriching, challenging, rewarding, and inspiring. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of religious studies, my courses and thesis research have given me the chance to explore seemingly disparate topics from a variety of different methodological perspectives. These topics have ranged from the integration of the body as an anthropological category with religious belief and praxis, to explorations and critical appraisals of received traditions regarding the place of human beings in the cosmos, to ancient forms of religion and the texts which bear witness to them.
My thesis research, at present, centers primarily on Origen of Alexandria, the Late Antique Christian philosopher, and seeks to make clear the various theological threads which tie together his largely Stoic theories of will and perception with his biblically informed understanding of sin and moral degeneration. This sort of research excites me, not least because it contributes to and participates in that age-old discussion around the relationship between Christianity and Hellenism, or between “Jerusalem” and “Athens”, as Tertullian so famously put it. Moreover, the syncretistic tendencies in Origen and likeminded Christian philosophers of the time provide us with interesting examples of non-zero-sum cultural interactions, where the conceptual tools of Greek philosophy combine with biblical narratives, ideas, and themes to produce a truly unique cultural form.
Among those most responsible for my continued passion and success as a student and researcher are Dr. Heidi Marx, Dr. Kenneth MacKendrick, and Dr. Mark Joyal. Their inspiration, kindness, open-mindedness, and erudition have been exemplary for me, and in this respect, the words of Luke 6:40 ring true: “a disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
Throughout my career as both an undergraduate and graduate student, I have sought out opportunities to advance learning in the humanities through my role as a writing tutor and as a teaching assistant. After graduation, my intent is to pursue doctoral studies related to the intersection of Christianity and Hellenism, but in this capacity I hope to involve myself in programs which provide the riches of a liberal arts education to those whose socioeconomic circumstances make seeking out such education difficult. Abraham Kuyper spoke powerfully about the calling of a scholar in one of his published convocation addresses, and I believe his words give expression to my own convictions and goals during and after graduation: “A scholar’s mission in life should be to serve and not to be served. Our maxim will always be: ‘you received without paying; give without pay (Matthew 10:8).’”
Receiving the Donald V. Snider Memorial Fellowship is a tremendous gift, certainly because of the financial burden it lifts, but also because of the time it purchases for the student who would otherwise have to fund their studies through work or savings. I owe the donor(s) of this award an immense debt of gratitude.