Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Notre Dame and the Idea of the Catholic University

From April 9… Having spent a couple of posts last week unpacking Liberty University’s ambition (and the older one of Baylor University) to become “the Protestant Notre Dame” — and asking just what that meant, I’m surprised it took almost four days to see this comment appear: The question isn’t so much whether Liberty is a … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Notre Dame and the Idea of the Catholic University

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Expectation and Joy

While I wrap up grading, I’ll be sharing some highlights from this spring’s blogging, starting with this Easter Monday meditation. “We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection as a message about our future with him in heaven,” wrote Roger Olson at his blog for Easter Sunday, “but we too often neglect the other dimension of Easter: that a … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Expectation and Joy

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Memorial Day (For Mike)

I originally published this last Veterans Day, but it’s more appropriate to Memorial Day. Peace be to the memory of my cousin Mike, and all others who have died in service to their country. The word veteran derives from a Latin term for “old,” but on this particular Veterans Day, I can only think of youth. Of … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: Memorial Day (For Mike)

Why you’ll be interested in our new book about Grace College and Seminary

Even if you don’t have any personal connection with Grace College or Seminary, there are lots of topics that emerge in Becoming Grace that may pique your interest, especially if you’re interested in American religious history or the trajectory of Christian colleges and universities. Here are a few prominent themes and tensions in the book. They … More Why you’ll be interested in our new book about Grace College and Seminary

Thursday’s Podcast: Body and Soul

5/22/15 – Good grief – two weeks in a row of posting a Pietist Schoolman Podcast a day late! But don’t let that discourage you from listening to episode 6 on iTunes and the Christian Humanist website. This time we dive deeper into the meaning of “whole-person education,” talking athletics and academics with Gretchen Hunt and everything from biokinetics to spiritual disciplines with Seth Paradis.

What Does It Mean to Be Midwestern? (A Post-Letterman Question)

The last episode of The Late Show with David Letterman aired last night — just over twenty-two years and four thousand episodes after I watched its debut in the middle of a hurricane warning, on my first evening as a college student in Virginia. I can’t really improve on all the commentary recognizing the significance of my all-time favorite TV personality to … More What Does It Mean to Be Midwestern? (A Post-Letterman Question)

West by Midwest 2015

5/20/15 – For the third year in a row, this afternoon I’ll spend part of my Study Day taking part in West by Midwest, a gathering of Bethel University folks who want to share innovative ideas for teaching and course design. I’ll be reporting on my experience teaching our new Intro to History course as a hybrid, blending face-to-face seminar … More West by Midwest 2015