While you might imagine that at a seminary, the students would solemnly observe the most holy days of the year, this needn’t be the case for Princeton seminarians. Even though the administration closes the seminary on Good Friday—an honorable effort to encourage students to take a few days off for rest and the Easter celebration—Princeton seminarians are not your normal theology students.
By not setting aside the holy week for reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus, Princeton seminarians actually demonstrate their theological and spiritual depth. To Princeton seminarians, not observing holy days communicates to others that they’re “tight” with God. They have no need to prove their love for God; after all they’ve committed themselves to several years of studying theology and sometimes even the Bible. Engaging in spiritual practices or merely resting during the holy week is for Christians with weak faith.
You must understand that Princeton seminarians can still honor God through other activities. For example, playing Ultimate Frisbee on the quad, taking in the latest blockbuster at the local cinema, and binge drinking until the wee hours of the morning (just like Jesus did at the wedding in Cana) are all acceptable holy week practices for Princeton seminarians. Alternatively, for those Princeton seminarians who are more prone to “anti-social behavior,” the holy week provides the perfect opportunity to “get ahead” of their classmates by diving into the “recommended” readings on their course syllabi. Nothing says, “I’m prepared for class” by referring to a reading that even the professor didn’t touch. Ultimately, by not observing the holy days, Princeton seminarians show the extent of their gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Strange!