I was all prepared to write a post about astronomer Martin Gaskell's lawsuit against the University of Kentucky, but Jesus Creed blogger RJS (a scientist at a major research university) beat me to the punch and stole many of my points. Here's a quick summary of Gaskell's case (which is still pending). According to news reports: Gaskell was a leading candidate for a new position in UK's Department of Physics and Astronomy as a director for a public observatory. Gaskell had held a similar position at the University of … [Read more...] about How open should you be about your faith?
Archives for December 2010
Advent Table Topic: Humility
On Tuesday, an Assistant Professor of Family & Community spoke to the Christian Medical Society/CMDA at Penn State Hershey College of Medicine on "Christ-centered Humility in Medicine." His presentation drove home the importance of discussing and embracing humility in the context of health care. Why? When we (and those with whom we are close) receive care in the medical context, we are reminded of/confronted by our limitations and reliance upon "Jesus the Great Physician, Healer, and Teacher." In addition, … [Read more...] about Advent Table Topic: Humility
What should campus ministers know about your campus?
Most campus ministers I know occupy an unusual position in the campus structure. On the one hand, they are involved with the lives of students and faculty on a very intimate level, dealing with personal beliefs, family relationships, major decisions and crises, and so on. They address needs that the rest of the university may not even acknowledge. On the other hand, campus ministers often exist on the margins of "normal" campus life. They aren't part of the student-faculty-administration structure that defines the … [Read more...] about What should campus ministers know about your campus?
Advent Table Topic: Be Alert for Announcements
Kathleen Norris writes: I once heard a Protestant clergywoman say to an ecumenical assembly, "We all know there was no Virgin Birth. Mary was just an unwed, pregnant teenager, and God told her it was okay. That's the message we need to give girls today, that God loves them, and forget all this nonsense about a Virgin Birth." ... I happened to be sitting between some Russian Orthodox, who were offended theologically, and black Baptists, whose sense of theological affront was mixed with social concern. … [Read more...] about Advent Table Topic: Be Alert for Announcements
Three Faith and Learning Links
First, my article "Faith and Faculty" has just been published on the InterVarsity homepage. The article relates how I came to be involved with the Emerging Scholars Network and why I care about Christian faculty and students. Here's a sneak peek: At the University of Louisville, I became an English major for some pretty shallow reasons: I wanted to read and write as much poetry and fiction as I could. When I came to faith in Christ during my junior year (with InterVarsity playing a central role), Christ gave me … [Read more...] about Three Faith and Learning Links