11/4/13 – If you were interested in my open letter on the crisis in Christian higher education, I discuss the topic as the featured guest on the current episode of the podcast Research on Religion, hosted by political scientist Tony Gill (Univ. of Washington) and supported by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. Tony … More My Appearance on the Research on Religion Podcast
Those interested in getting early glimpses of our forthcoming book for InterVarsity Press, Whole and Holy Persons: A Pietist Approach to Christian Higher Education, can now watch video of the first two in a series of six talks by contributors to that volume. Earlier this month in the Bethel University Library, Marion Larson (English) and … More Talks on Pietism and Higher Ed: Interfaith Dialogue and Off-Campus Study
Here • We’re on Facebook! It’s a fun format — a chance to share links even before Saturdays, plus books I’m reading or teaching. I might do a bit of microblogging there on items that don’t seem to require 500-1500 words of commentary here. And we get spontaneous conversations like the one yesterday afternoon about … More That Was The Week That Was
Part two of a series of posts following up on comments on my open letter urging American churches to recommit to Christian higher education by increasing their direct and indirect financial support of colleges like Bethel. “This one is tough for me,” commented a reader named Mike, in response to last Tuesday’s open letter, “as … More Are Christian Colleges Good Financial Stewards?
The first of three posts following up on comments on last Tuesday’s open letter asking churches to support Christian higher education… Today let me start with a thread running through several comments: the argument that if Christian colleges are not receiving as much financial support from denominations and churches, it’s because the colleges themselves have … More Are Christian Colleges Too Detached from Churches?
Last Tuesday I posted an open letter to American churches, describing what I see as the looming crisis facing Christian colleges like Bethel University and suggesting that one important facet of any lasting solution would be a renewed commitments by churches and denominations to financially support such institutions of higher learning. As I hinted in … More A Postscript to My Open Letter on Christian Higher Education
Here… • I’ve never experienced anything remotely like the response generated by my open letter about Christian higher education. Thank you to the thousands who read it, and to the many who commented on the blog, at Facebook and Twitter, and via e-mail. I’ll have a follow-up post on Monday. • And thanks again to … More That Was The Week That Was
Chris, a Christian college professor and church chairperson, To the pastors, lay leaders, members, and friends of the churches and denominations that founded and still sponsor the Christian colleges and universities of this country: Before today is done, no small number of faculty members at the Christian college where I work will be asked to … More An Open Letter to American Churches: The Crisis of Christian Higher Education
Is a value of the liberal arts that they produce good citizens? Should Christians also argue that such an education helps keep America powerful? As self-proclaimed defenders of the liberal arts like myself set about their task, they trumpet the many benefits of a well-rounded education that includes a healthy dose of seemingly impractical disciplines … More The Christian Liberal Arts, Citizenship, and Power
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?
The Pietist Schoolman 