Why does it take so long?

Back when I was an undergrad I sat in wonder and awe at those who went to graduate school, especially PhDs. Why? I would think. Turning over 2 years of your life for a masters, and then another 5 more for a PhD is insanity. And forget MDs. As I sit here now and consider my own plan for a PhD I know why it takes that long. It takes that long to be conversant in the field, and to contribute something original, creative, and new. Part of my frustration is that in my current career, software, should the boss just gives me a couple of solitary hours (which are increasingly hard to come by) I can churn out a complete, useful, and working program. It will solve a problem that we’ll never have to solve, or perform by hand, again. Moving to the field of biblical studies and theology, transform those hours into years. Waiting for, or building scholarly consensus takes a long time. And the reasons for that are the same as for why a PhD takes so long.

Imagine the knowledge of your field as the Book of Life. Individuals working in the field write word after word in that book. The great thinkers end up turning the page in the field. From the perspective of history it seems as if their work was pure, unadulterated genius, so powerful no one could resist it. Of course, from the inside, no matter how creative and powerful it is, it still sat upon on the words previously written. And to those who know very little about the field, they would only know about the chapter divisions in this great Book of Life of your field. It requires turning over a decade of your life to learn about the people who wrote the words, turned the pages, and framed the chapters. All so you can write a few words of your own. Then you have to wait for the editors to come through.