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February 10, 2014 by kevinstilley

Syllabus – Church & Empires

Course Syllabus – Spring 2014
Church and Empires

The College at Southwestern
HIS 1203-A   T/Th    1:00 – 2:15 p.m.  Room S22
Instructor: Kevin Stilley
Office Hours:  By Appointment

I keep office hours a few blocks from the college at Stadium Drive Baptist Church: 4717 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76133, or can meet you by appointment in the Student Center.

Email:  [email protected]
Website:  http://kevinstilley.com
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/kevinstilley
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/kevin.stilley

Catalog Description

A study of the history and philosophy of western civilization from late antiquity to the late medieval period.

Course Objectives

  • Appreciation of God’s providence in the overall pattern of history.
  • To gain knowledge of the main events, ideas and persons that have shaped western civilization from the early Christian church to the dawn of the Reformation.
  • To understand how Christianity and western civilization are related and be able to outline the relationship between church and state across time.
  • Development of the skill of applying history to contemporary ideas and issues

Required Texts

  • History of the Medieval World, by Susan Wise Bauer
  • Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by Bede
  • The Middle Ages, by Morris Bishop
  • Christian History Made Easy, Timothy Paul Jones

 (Please bring a Bible to class with you.)

 Assignments

Grades will be determined based upon completion of three exams, a writing assignment, and class participation.

  • First Examination  (25%) – This exam will be conducted via Blackboard so please be sure to have a good internet connection available on the day of the exam.
  • Second Examination  (25%) – This exam will be conducted via Blackboard so please be sure to have a good internet connection available on the day of the exam.
  • Final Examination: (25%) – The date and time for the final exam may not coincide with normal class days and times. You must make yourself available to take the final exam at the scheduled time during finals week.   No alternative times or venues for the exam will be offered.
  • Essay/Response (15%):  Each student will write a response to the op-ed piece “Does Christian Fundamentalism Endanger Our Republic?” by Carol V. Hamilton  (http://hnn.us/articles/52479.html).  The response should incorporate themes discussed in class regarding the interaction of Christianity, civilization, and Western culture.  Essays should be approximately 1000 words long and will be graded in terms of grammar, composition, creativity, research, analysis, and relevance.  Late papers will be subject to a five yard point per day penalty for delay of game.
  • Participation (10%): All students are expected to attend class, be punctual, and participate appropriately in classroom discussion.  To engage in classroom discussion of the assigned reading it is imperative that all reading assignments be conducted in a timely fashion.
    • Attendance will be recorded at the beginning of all class sessions. Absences or tardiness will adversely affect your grade.  Absences in excess of six will result in an automatic failure of the class.
    • Students are free to record the class.
    • Guests are welcome, but please notify the instructor in advance.
    • Laptops, iPhones, and similar devices may NOT be used during class as their usefulness is far outweighed by their ability to create a distraction and contribute to the cultural habit of inattentiveness.
    • If you become drowsy you may stand at the back or the side of the room until you can resume your seat without falling asleep.

Grades

Grades will be determined by the following scale: 100-98 (A+); 97-93 = A; 92-90 (A-); 89-88(B+); 87-83 (B); 82-80 (B-); 79-78 (C+); 77-73 (C); 72-70 (C-); 69-68 (D+); 67-63 (D); 62-60 (D-); Below 60 = F.

Blackboard

Blackboard and SWBTS student email will be used for class communications.  Students should check both Blackboard and student email daily for possible communications from the instructor.

Tentative Schedule

HIS 3203 Topic Assignment Due Today
January 23 Introduction to Course -Discussion of Syllabus Please print out and bring your syllabus to this class session.
January 28 The First 1,000 Years of ChristianityReview for Final Exam  Read: Bishop, chapter 1 Bring Christian History Made Easy to class with you.
January 30 External Pressures on the Church — Persecution: Apologetic and Martyrdom literature Read: Jones, Introduction and chapter 1
February 4 Internal Pressures on the Church: Heresy, Creeds, & Councils Read: Jones, chapters 2 & 3
February 6 The Age of Invasions Read: Bauer, chapters 1, 4, 5, 6 & 8
February 11 Fall of the Roman Empire & Augustine Read: Bauer, chapters 9, 10, 11 & 12
February 13 Boethius, Monasticism, Asceticism & Mysticism Read: Bauer, chapters 13, 16, 17, 18
February 18 BritainThe Papacy Read: Bede, book 1
February 20 Rise of the Franks / Charlemagne Read: Bauer, chapters 19, 20, 21, 22, 25
February 25 Church and State: A historical perspective Read: Bauer, chapters 27, 28, 29
February 27 Christ and Culture: Richard Niebuhr and D.A. Carson Read: Bauer, chapters 33, 34, 35, & 36
March 4 Does Christian Fundamentalism Endanger Our Republic?” Due: Submit your essay via Turnitin no later than the beginning of class time, and bring a paper copy to class for the instructor.
March 6 Mid-Term Examination Mid-Term Examination
March 11 Spring Break Spring Break
March 13 Spring Break Spring Break
March 18 Mohammad Read: Bauer, chapters 37, 39, 41
March 20 Expansion of Islam / Do Christians and Muslim’s Worship the Same God? Read: Bauer, chapters 42, 45, 47, & 48
March 25 The Crusades Read: Bauer, chapter 71Read: Bishop, chapter 3
March 27 The Crusades, War, Dr. Seuss & Christian Ethics Read Bishop, chapter 4
April 1 The VikingsRussia Read: Bauer, chapters 56, 69, 69, & 71
April 3 The Norman Conquest of England / The Hundred Years War / Henry V / Joan of Arc / Europe in the High Middle Ages – Feudalism/ The Black Death / Magna Carta, & Shakespeare’s Kings Read: Bishop, chapter 2
April 8 The Scholastics (Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, and other guys whose name does not start with an  “A”  like Ockam) Read: Bishop, chapter 5
April 10 The University (Averroes, Maimonides, Siger of Brabant and other smart guys) Read: Bishop, chapter 8
April 15 Literary, Political and Cultural Contributions of the Late Medieval Period Read: Bishop, chapter 9
April 17 Examination #2 Examination #2
April 22 The Church in the 14th Century Review Christian History Made Easy
April 24 Medieval Reformers Review Christian History Made Easy
April 29 The End of Byzantium Review Christian History Made Easy
Final Examination Final Examination In Class

 

“When a man is busy at study, the Evil Impulse whispers to him: Why tarryest thou here.  Go and join the men who flirt with pretty women.”  – Talmud, Zohar, ii, 265b

 

Filed Under: Blog, Education, History, Philosophy Tagged With: antiquity, college, History, medieval, middle ages, Philosophy, SWBTS, Syllabus

January 1, 2012 by kevinstilley

Textbooks for Spring 2012

It is pleasing that so many of my students for the coming semester have emailed me in advance inquiring about textbooks in order to get an early start on their reading.  Students, please get the exact editions that are listed.  You might have to pay a few extra dollars to get them, but you will be rewarded with both convenience and clarity.  Here they are …

Early Western Civilization Seminar (IDE 1103)

Author Textbook ISBN-13 ISBN-10
Aristotle Nichomachean Ethics 9780911589030 0911589031
Metaphysics

Rhetoric

 

Poetics

9780140446197

9780140445107

 

9780140446364

0140446192

0140445102

 

0140446362

Plato Republic

Timaeus and Critias

9780872201361

9780140442618

0872201368

0140442618

Sophocles (Greek Tragedies) Oediupus Rex, 2nd Ed. Antigone, Vol. 1 9780226307909 0226307905
Schall, James A Student’s Guide to Liberal Learning 9781882926534 1882926536
Troyka, Lynn, Quitman, & Douglas Hesse Handbook for Writers
(Simon & Schuster),9th Edition
9780136028604 0136028608


Church & Empires Seminar (IDE 1203)

Author Textbook ISBN-13 ISBN-10
Athanasius On The Incarnation 9780913836408 0913836400
Augustine Confessions 9780800787240 0800787242
City of God 9780385029100 0385029101
Cicero On Duties 9780521348355 0521348358
Aquinas Summa Theologiae(A Shorter Summa) 9780898704389 0898704383
Troyka, Lynn, Quitman, & Douglas Hesse Handbook for Writers
(Simon & Schuster), 9th Edition
9780136028604 0136028608

Filed Under: Blog, Books, History, Philosophy, Theology Tagged With: college, Early Western Civilization, seminar, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, textbooks

August 30, 2011 by kevinstilley

A Student’s Guide To Liberal Learning – Discussion Questions:

Class #2 – Early Western Civilization Seminar

Assigned Reading: A Student’s Guide To Liberal Learning, by James V. Schall

Discussion Questions:

  • What do you enjoy reading?  What do you read?  Does it make a difference? “Desultory reading is delightful, but to be beneficial, our reading must be carefully directed.”( ~ Seneca)  What kind of books does Schall refer to in his book.
  • Schall refers to Plato’s productions as “literary works” and Aristotle’s as “more pedestrian classnotes and lectures.”  (page 1)  What is the contrast that he is identifying with these referents?
  • In several places in the book Schall claims that a denial of truth is prominent in the current Zeitgeist.  Do you think this is a problem?  Is this related to common thought regarding “toleration?”  “… sin?”  “… judging?”  “… inability to speak on a particular subject unless you have been through that experience yourself?” Are those who deny “truth” in the spiritual realm consistent when it comes to the manner in which they live in the physical world?
  • Do you agree that reading the classics is essential to restoring a vital intellectual life that is open to truth?  What is truth?  Do you think that the average person would agree with Plato’s definition of truth?  (page 10)
  • Schall refers to an endemic of biblical illiteracy?  (page 12) Do you think it is as bad as he suggests?  Is our generation different from previous generations when it comes to knowing what the Bible says?
  • Does Schall expect most students to get a good college education?  Why, or why not?  How would you respond to his question found in the last sentence on page 13?
  • What do you think about Bloom’s suggestion that music may be the real educator of our youth?  (page 17)
  • In “Reading”, Henry David Thoreau writes, “How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book!” Consider Schall’s account of the transformation of Augustine after reading the Hortensius.  Can you point to such an occurrence in your life? If not, why not? (page 18)
  • What do you think of Chesterton’s definition of humility, found on page 24?
  • When we discover contradictions and error in the “great books” should we resort to apathy, skepticism, or relativism? (page 24)
  • Schall claims that self-denial/self-discipline is primary and essential to education. Do you agree?  Just how important is it?  Re-read the last paragraph of page 25/first paragraph of page 26.  What role do you think self-discipline will play in how well you do at Southwestern?  “When a man is busy at study, the Evil Impulse whispers to him: Why tarryest thou here.  Go and join the men who flirt with pretty women.” – Talmud, Zohar, ii, 265b
  • Do you agree with the author about the relationship between self-discipline and freedom?  Schall says that self-discipline will set you free; Jesus said that the truth will set you free.  Which is it?  (page 29)  He also says that reading is freeing (page 43), can he not make up his mind?
  • Schall notes that “we don’t have to read everything.”  (page 31)  In fact, it would be impossible to do so.  So what should you read?  “Read properly, fewer books than a hundred would suffice for a liberal education. Read superficially, the British Museum Library might still leave the student a barbarian.” (~ A. R. Orage)
  • Schall refers to the reading of Shakespeare; (page 32) do you think it is taking a shortcut to watch Shakespeare’s plays rather than reading them?  (for additional thought: http://kevinstilley.com/ode-to-shakespeare-in-modern-english-editions/)
  • Regarding the roles of student- teacher Schall writes, “This is what I have tried to do for students in insisting that they come to class regularly, after having carefully read the text.  The student who does not do this work himself is unteachable.  No teacher can really help him.”  (page 39)  Do you agree?
  • Schall defines a personal library as books that we have read again.  (page 34) What is the value of re-reading? “When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than was there before.” ~ Clifton Fadiman.   Is there a similarity between anthropological field work and reading a great book?
  • Consider Schall’s comments about those to whom a student “owes” something for their education.  Who do you owe?  (page 36ff)
  • What is the value of reading a book in community rather than in isolation?  (page 42ff)  Watch the video clip from Apartment for Peggy; http://kevinstilley.com/the-benefits-of-colloquium/
  • Schall reminds us that, as Aristotle pointed out, “that many people who do not know books are nevertheless very wise.” (pages 43-44) Does this take away from his previous argumentation regarding the value of books?  Does this warn against letting your learning make you arrogant?

Questions For The Final Exam from this material:

  • Probably None

Recommended Additional Reading:

  • http://kevinstilley.com/books-reading-select-quotes/
  • “On the Reading of Old Books” by C.S. Lewis
  • The Best Things in Life, by Peter Kreeft
  • A Student’s Guide to The Core Curriculum, by Mark C. Henrie
  • From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics, by Louis Markos
  • When Athens Met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and Christian Thought, by John Mark Reynolds

Filed Under: Blog, Books, History, Philosophy, Worldview, Zeitgeist Tagged With: college, Education, Reading

August 8, 2011 by kevinstilley

Digital Nation

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Filed Under: Blog, Zeitgeist Tagged With: college, Gadgets, technology

April 10, 2011 by kevinstilley

Christian Higher Education?

A BIBLIOGRAPHY ON A CRITIQUE OF BOTH SECULAR AND CHRISTIAN COLLEGES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LIBERAL ARTS HIGHER EDUCATION

A List Compiled for the Faculty by Drs. Harvey Solganick and David P. Bertch
From The College At Southwestern, Fort Worth, Texas, August 2009

  • Anderson, Paul M., ed.,  Professors Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of Christian Faculty.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998.

— A collection of essays by professors at either public or private, non-sectarian colleges and universities concerning how they see religious faith influencing their work in their chosen academic disciplines. 

  • Blamires, Harry, The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think? Servant Books, 1963.

— A scathing critical look at the state of the mind in the mid-twentieth century church, rivaling Hofstadter’s broader look at the culture in general. Both agree that Christian non-thinking has been a great contributor to anti-intellectualism.

  • Bloom, Allan, The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students.  Simon and Schuster, 1987. 

 — The subtitle tells it all.  This ground breaking book began a stream of other critiques of the damaging state of American education at all levels, especially in our colleges and universities.

  • Burtchaell, James Tunstead,  The Dying of the Light. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.

— An evaluation of church-school relations and a description of how many have withered over time.

  • Carpenter, Joel, Kenneth Shipps, Making Higher Education Christian: The History and Mission of Evangelical Colleges in America. Eerdmans, 1987.

 — Authors bring out the hidden history of Evangelical colleges  and demonstrate their academic establishment and growth.

  • Dockery, David S. and David Gushee, eds.,  The Future of Christian Higher Education.  Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1999.

— A collection of essays highlighting practices that allow Christian colleges to stay Christ-centered.

  • Eliot, T. S., Christianity and Culture: The Idea of a Christian Society & Notes Towards the Definition of Culture. A Harvest/HB Book, 1968.

— These classic two long essays by one of the greatest authors and critics of the twentieth century gives a penetrating look at our cultural and educational responsibilities. 

  • Farnham, Nicholas, Adam Yarmolinski, eds., Rethinking Liberal Education, Oxford University Press, 1996.

       — A collection of essays by prominent educators on a spectrum of concerns among liberal arts colleges.

  • Garber, Steven, The Fabric of Faithfulness.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.

— An attempt to answer the question of how to help college students connect with their spiritual beliefs.

  • George, Robert, The  Clash of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion, and Morality in Crisis. ISI Books, 2001.

— The author takes secular thinking and shows its failure through abandonment of reason. He defends traditional Judeo-Christian principles for the universities and culture.

  •   Heie, Harold, and David L.Wolfe, eds., The Reality of Christian Learning: Strategies for Faith- Discipline Integration. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987.

— A compilation of essays describing ways to integrate faith into the disciplines of political science, sociology, psychology, biology, mathematics, the arts, and philosophy.

  •   Henry, Douglas V., and Bob R. Agee, ed., Faithful Learning and the Christian Scholarly Vocation. Eerdmans, 2003. 

— A compendium of essays by current Christian scholars on rethinking the art of teaching in the light of twenty-first century challenges. 

  • Henry, Douglas V., and Michael D. Beaty, eds.,  Christianity and the Soul of the University: Faith as a Foundation for Intellectual Community.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006.

— A collection of essays gathered from a conference held at Baylor University in the spring of 2004.  The essays concerning Christian higher education are broken into two sections—essays in the first section assess what are deemed basic issues while essays in the second section assess what are deemed vital practices.

  • Highet, Gilbert, The Classical Tradition: Greek and Roman Influences on Western Literature. Oxford University Press, 1957.

— Another classic text on the Classics and their influence on Western civilization through their forms, imagery, myths, style and standards.  

  • Hofstadter, Richard, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. Vintage Books, 1962.

— This classic historical  text on the state of the American mind  traces back the malady to Christian non-thinking, the same which Blamires’ book corroborates.

  • Holmes, Arthur F.,  Building the Christian Academy.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001.

— A discourse of Christian learning throughout seven episodes in history.

  • Holmes, Arthur F.,  The Idea of a Christian College.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1975.

— An attempt to provide a philosophical understanding of the mission and activity of the Christian college.

  • Holmes, Arthur F., ed.,  The Making of a Christian Mind.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity,  1984.

— A discussion of how various forms of scholarship fit into what is developed as a Christian worldview.

  • Holmes, Arthur F.,  Shaping Character.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994.

— A discussion of the state of moral education in the Christian college.

  • Hughes, Richard T.,  How Christian Faith Can Sustain the Life of the Mind.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001.

— A theological discussion of how various Christian traditions make contributions to the integration of religious faith with the aspirations of reason.

  • Hughes, Richard T. and William B. Adrian, eds.,  Models for Christian Higher Education.   Grand  Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997.

— A compilation of essays detailing how fourteen colleges and universities from different Christian traditions are successfully integrating faith and learning.

  •  Litfin, Duane, Conceiving the Christian College: A College President Shares his Vision of Higher Education. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2004. ISBN 0-8028-2783-7

— The President of Wheaton College weighs in on his perspectives on the maintaining of a premier Christian liberal arts college.

  • Malik, Charles Habib, A Christian Critique of the University. InterVarsity Press, 1982.

— A very short outline of indictment of what Jesus would say about our colleges and universities today from an eminent Lebanese Greek Orthodox statesman and educator. 

  • Maritain, Jacques, Education at the Crossroads. Yale University Press, 1943, 1971.

 — Eminent mid-twentieth century French Catholic philosopher explores American education recommending a connection to the liberal arts tradition.

  • Marsden, George M.,  The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1997.

— A presentation supporting an enhanced role for religious faith in today’s scholarship.

  • Marsden, George M.,  The Soul of the American University.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1994. 

— An attempt to trace the process of secularization as it occurred in America’s more prominent colleges and universities.

  • Marsden, George M., and Bradley J. Longfield, eds.  The Secularization of the Academy.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1992.

— A compilation of essays that attempts to trace the process of secularization in some of America’s leading universities.

  • Markos, Louis., From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians should read the Pagan Classics.Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007.ISBN 978-0-8308-2593-6.

— A professor of English at a Baptist college in Texas comments on Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey, the Greek Tragedians, and Virgil’s Aeneid and connects to thinking Christianly.

  • Moberly, Sir Walter, The Crisis in the University. SCM Press, 1949. 

— A classic text  that discusses the situation in British universities and its failure to contend with the contemporary crisis, with his suggestions on how to rise up to the challenges.

  • Monroe, Kelly,  Finding God at Harvard.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996.

—A work counteracting the assumption that intellectuals are secularists while addressing the relativism and emptiness haunting modern universities.

  • Newman, John Henry.  The Idea of a University.  Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame  Press, 1982.

— A call to defend the idea of Catholic education within the context of the university.

  • Noll, Mark A.,  The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994.

— An early 1990’s attempt to detail the decline of the evangelical intellect and to propose ways of reversing this dilemma.

  • Orrill, Robert, ed., The Condition of American Liberal Education: Pragmatism and a Changing Tradition. College Entrance Examination Board, 1995.

— A collection of essays encouraging the updating of a liberal ars education with pragmatic results.

  • Pelikan, Jaroslav,  The Idea of the University.  New Haven, CN: Yale University Press, 1992.

— An attempt to re-examine John Henry Newman’s original argument in light of the challenges facing the present-day university.

  • Peterson, Michael L,.  With All Your Mind: A Christian Philosophy of Education.  Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2001.

— An attempt to philosophically and theologically frame the identity of Christian institutions of education along with the issues currently challenging them.  

  • Plantinga, Cornelius,  Engaging God’s World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.

— An attempt to develop a vision of the Christian mind that seeks to transform all areas of life.

  •   Poe, Henry Lee, and Dallas Willard,  Christianity in the Academy: Teaching at the Intersection\of Faith and Learning. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2004.

— An effort to encourage educators to look at their chosen field through from the perspective of the Christian faith. 

  •   Postman, Neil, The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School.  Vintage Books, 1996.

— A well-know Jewish critic analyze the current crisis in education with strategies for instilling global citizenship, healthy skepticism, respect for American traditions and appreciation of diversity.

  • Reynolds, John Mark, When Athens met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and Christian Thought. InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8308-2923-1l

— A well-written introduction to Greek thinking and Christian intellectual underpinning of Western civilization via an exposition of a few of Plato’s Dialogues and Aristotle’s writings and their relevance today.

  • Rudolph, Frederick, The American College and University: A History.  The University of  Georgia Press, 1990.

—This text traces the history of the founding of American higher education from the Colonial era through today.

  • Sertillanges, A. G., The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods. The Catholic University of America Press, 1987.

— A very spiritual approach to becoming a learner of the intellectual virtues.

  • Sire, James, Habits of he Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling.  InterVarsity Press, 2000.

— A carefully carved text on the calling in learning how to think Christianly through developing the virtues of the mind.

  • Snow, C. P., Two Cultures. Cambridge University Press, 1993.

— This classic author of the early twentieth century raises up the battle between the humanities and the sciences and outlines the issues.  

  • Weaver, Richard, Ideas Have Consequences. University of Chicago Press, 1948.

— A most disturbing classic critical text written at the same time as Orwell’s 1984, where the author as prophet unsparingly diagnoses the educational ills of our age.

  • Wells, David F., No Place for Truth: Or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology?  Eermans, 1993.

—  The author boldly indicts Evangelical Christianity for its failure with intellectual priorities, giving his analysis and strategy for renewal.

  • Whitehead, Alfred North, The Aims of  Education and Other Essays. The Free Press, 1929, 1957.

— A famous secular scientist recommends the Classics and gives his convincing reasons why they must be combined with the sciences.

  •   Wolterstorff, Nicholas,  Educating for Life: Reflections on Teaching and Learning.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2002.

—An exploration of the role the religious faith plays in the nature and practice of education. 

  •    Wolterstorff, Nicholas, Joldersma, Clarence W., and Gloria Goris Stronks, eds., Educating for Shalom: Essays on Christian Higher Education. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.

— A compilation of essays regarding the Reformed perspective and its relation to higher education.

Filed Under: Blog, Books, Philosophy, Theology Tagged With: bibliography, Christian Education, college, Seminary

December 31, 2008 by kevinstilley

How To Pull an All Nighter

Hopefully, none of my students will ever need the following advice, but just in case, here is some advice on how to pull an all-nighter.

Filed Under: Blog, Graffiti, Trivia Tagged With: college, exams, Study

June 6, 2008 by kevinstilley

Free Expression & Censorship On College Campuses

I am confused. Should not the ideology behind liberalism promote free expression? Yet, it would seem that on most college campuses free expression of ideas is only free for those who agree with the dominant liberal culture. Whether in the area of poli-sci, the hard sciences, or journalism it is simply not acceptable to openly express conservative ideas.

In Letters To A Young Conservative, Dinesh D’Souza shares what happened when he was invited to a university to speak. He arrived to find protesters with bullhorns and placards surrounding the auditorium making it impossible to enter without the assistance of security. The protesters then proceeded to follow him into the auditorium where they did everything possible to keep him from sharing his thoughts with those assembled.

Undoubtedly the high point of the evening occurred near the end of my talk when the large, disheveled woman came rolling up the aisle shouting, “We don’t need a debate! Stop this man from speaking! My usual strategy in such circumstances is to try to calm the protester down and engage in a discussion, but this time there was no point. Finally, the woman was dragged from the room by the campus police. On her way out she yelled, “I am being censored! I am being censored!

It is amazing to me that so many of those who invoke the first amendment to justify their own right to freedom of expression, are often the same people who will do everything possible to keep others from expressing ideas contrary to their own. Maybe what we need most on our college campuses are courses in critical thinking.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Blog, campus, college, conservativism, constitution, Dinesh D'Souza, Education, first amendment, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, liberalism, university

May 28, 2008 by kevinstilley

Argumentum ad misericordiam

Tomorrow I must turn in grades for the classes I taught at the college this Spring. Over the last few weeks I have fielded no less than nine appeals for mercy.

“If I don’t make a good grade I will lose my scholarship.”

“If I don’t make a good grade it will look bad on my pageant documentation.”

“I would have done better but ….

Well you get the idea.

These appeals to mercy are know as the argumentum ad misericordiam fallacy. In the Fall I plan on starting the semester with a discussion of it. Rather than present a reasoned argument with supporting information the appellant makes an attempt to evoke sympathy. Even if logically irrelevant such an argument can be successful if the one to whom the plea is made is a compassionate bloke. Personally, I would prefer that they bring me a shiny red apple — or a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Blog, college, critical thinking, Grades, logic, Philosophy, Reasoning

May 12, 2008 by kevinstilley

First Graduates From The College At Southwestern

Southwestern GraduatesThe magnificent seven, plus three. The first ten graduates from the College at Southwestern should be very proud. They were there at the beginning of something truly great. The College at Southwestern was established in 2005 and “is rooted in the rich history of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Baptist, Blog, Caner, college, Evangelism, Graduates, Missions, Paige Patterson, Seminary, Southwestern Baptist, Theological

March 2, 2008 by kevinstilley

Why Are Textbooks So Expensive?

__________

RELATED

Books & Reading – Select Quotes

Abraham Lincoln’s Love of Reading

John McCain’s Five Favorite Books About War

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Book Prices, college, Publishing, textbooks, university

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