Category: Books

Swartz, Moral Minority

The Global Reflex: An International Historian Appraises David Swartz’s Moral Minority (part 1)

November 20, 2013

Yesterday I had the privilege of joining historians Dick Pierard, Owen Strachan, and Miles Mullin (who organized the session) on an Evangelical Theological Society panel dedicated to David Swartz’s groundbreaking history of the “evangelical left.” Here’s part one of my paper (fleshing out some themes I introduced earlier this month); look for part two early … More The Global Reflex: An International Historian Appraises David Swartz’s Moral Minority (part 1)

Jared Burkholder

Introducing Jared Burkholder, Our New Regular Guest Blogger

November 14, 2013

Today I’m happy to introduce Jared Burkholder, a fellow “Pietist schoolman” who will be blogging here every other Friday! Jared is Associate Professor of History at Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, where he also chairs the History and Political Science department and directs the Office of Faith, Learning, and Scholarship. He holds … More Introducing Jared Burkholder, Our New Regular Guest Blogger

Billy Graham with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, 1981

Mind the Gap: The Histories of Christianity and of International Relations

November 1, 2013

The modern distinction between sacred and secular has allowed the studies of religion and politics to go their separate ways in virtual isolation. (Nathan O. Hatch) By training, I’m a historian of international relations. More recently, I’ve become interested in the history of Christianity. That wouldn’t seem like an unlikely pairing, given the global reach … More Mind the Gap: The Histories of Christianity and of International Relations

Crouch, Playing God

Andy Crouch on Power: Implications for Education?

October 11, 2013

I haven’t yet read Andy Crouch’s new book, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, but it’s been hard to miss. An essay on power from Crouch is the cover story in the October 2013 issue of Christianity Today (where Crouch is now executive editor). Borrowing concepts from anthropologist Geert Hofstede, Crouch observes that American … More Andy Crouch on Power: Implications for Education?

Bethel University: Community Life Center and Benson Great Hall

Announcing Our Forthcoming Book on Pietism and Higher Education!

October 1, 2013

It’s probably too early to start shopping for Christmas 2014, but if you like to plan ahead… I’m happy to announce that I’m editing a book tentatively titled Whole and Holy Persons: A Pietist Approach to Christian Higher Education, hopefully coming out next fall from InterVarsity Press. As longtime readers know, this topic has been … More Announcing Our Forthcoming Book on Pietism and Higher Education!

Tolkien, The Hobbit

The Christian Liberal Arts as Tolkienesque Quest

September 25, 2013

How’s this for a college recruitment slogan? “Bethel University: you might not come back, but you will not be the same” No? What if we had Sir Ian McKellen intone it, as in the first part of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, when Martin Freeman’s Bilbo is being encouraged by McKellen’s wizard Gandalf to go … More The Christian Liberal Arts as Tolkienesque Quest

The remnant of the World Trade Center

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: This Day in History: 9/11

September 11, 2013

Change the first word to “Twelve” and this post from 9/11/2012 still seems to fit today, 9/11/2013. Eleven years ago this morning I was in Hamden, Connecticut, waking up after a late night of dissertation writing to turn on CNN in time to watch the collapse of the World Trade Center’s twin towers. Those structures … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: This Day in History: 9/11