The job market is tough these days

MDiv #1: "So anyway, in this book, she was trying to sell herself for money."
MAR: "What else would you sell yourself for? Lima beans?"
MDiv #2: "I would never sell myself for lima beans. I might sell myself for tofu, though."

Overheard: on Prospect Street

What about Baal(s)?

Guest preacher: Where did Esther get the gumption? Can I say, where did she get the balls?
Voice from congregation: No!
Guest preacher: Well, I can't think of any other way to say it.

Overheard in Marquand worship

Not even on Halloween?

Patrick Evans: We've never had a bad nun in Marquand.

Overheard: in the hall

Like David, the boy in the bubble?

Mdiv student, speaking on personal boundaries: My bubble? It's firm.

Not even a Cardinal?

Teresa Berger: "I don't believe the Trinity is two men and a little bird."

Overheard in Foundations of Christian Worship

Not according to your Hebrew Bible students...

John Collins: I live for the caffeine.

Overheard at: Coffee Hour

Well, that depends...

Student : So hopefully I'm fertile...

Overheard in: Pope Seminar Room

mysterious ways

Lecturer: I was listening to a sermon where the preacher used an example of God as a laxative, which really wasn't a good idea.

Student: So you could say God moved them...


Overheard: Intro to Christian Worship

Preparing leaders for church and world

Student 1 (looking at the Drug Prevention that came with our id stickers): This is insulting.

Student 2: I prefer to think of it as a helpful guide to what to take, and when. For example, it says that tonight I should be taking meth, so I can concentrate on the 100 pages I need to read and not sleep.

Overheard in Commuter Lounge

Or: 'I should have had beans for lunch.'

Tom Troeger: [Imagine] you want to get to Jesus, but can't because of the crowd. What are you thinking?

Student: Hey, can you act like a leper?

Overheard in: Principles of Preaching

Getting bigger, apparently

Student, opening a king-size Snickers bar after eating a huge refectory sandwich: I don't need to eat this. What am I doing with my life?

So, is House of the Lord like craft time?

Student 1: I have done NOTHING since classes started.

Student 2: It's Yale Divinity Summer Camp. It's great!

Heard in: Commuter lounge

I was hoping Kate Spelman was somehow involved. Alas, no.

And delicious!

Student's spouse: Tsatsiki sauce has yogurt and cucumbers in it. It's like an expensive facial for your mouth.

Heard in: The Refectory

Look busy

Sign posted on seminar room S100: The Messiah has moved to Niebuhr.

You're like a pirate!

Student: The Episcopalians put lime in my gin. I approve. It may be the only citrus I get this year.

Overheard in: Commuter Lounge

Can we use that in chapel?

Margot Fassler: Your brain is naked.... You're a rattle with one pea!

Overheard in: Chant and Liturgy in the Latin Middle Ages

That's what scientists are known for

Student: You should socialize with people from other schools . . . (talking about science grad students) They're all pretty down there. It's no fair. They never see the sun.


Overheard in: Commuter Lounge

Only without the racism!

YDS staff member looking at songbird on railing: I wouldn’t be surprised if it hopped on Dale Peterson’s shoulder right now and started singing Zippity Doo Dah.

No boos!

Student 1: So the real question is, who is taking over Overheard at YDS?
Me: [amazing student]!
Student 2: Yay!
Student 3: Yeah!
Student 4: Booo?

overheard: graduation bbq



As an official graduate of YDS, it's time for me to leave the ranks of you commoners and start living the high life as an alum. Rest assured, you are in wonderful hands. I trust my replacement to find the funniest, wittiest, most theologically ridiculous quotes possible, but she can't do it without you. You can submit quotes through the comments as usual or email them to our new email address at overheard.at.yds@gmail.com.

I will be with you always, to the end of the age.*

*Just in another state. Come visit?? Also, assuming the apocalypse comes, I'm going to be in need of an expert. Second Temple students, I'm looking at you.