Soren Kierkegaard famously said, "purity of heart is to will one thing." To center back on our call to will one thing, namely the will of God, is the chief purpose of Lent. This week's gospel reading comes from Matthew 4:1-11. It's the scene of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. The Liar and Destroyer tempts Jesus, beckoning him to use God's power to turn stones to bread, to use God's power to call the angels to his aid, and he offers him the authority over all the kingdoms of the world, if only Jesus would will … [Read more...] about To Will One Thing; A Lenten Reflection on Matthew 4:1-11
How to Be a Christian Academic: A Brief Theology
A few weeks ago I wrote about purpose; I presented a handful of perspectives on the purpose of our human existence and asked the question, Why should I go to grad school, anyway? Today I want to zoom in on one particular thread that, as you may have noticed, traced prominently through two of the given perspectives. That thread is the glory of God. Now, before I lose you completely with those worn out old words, let me shake them off and give them back their . . . glory. Irenaeus, a father of the early church, … [Read more...] about How to Be a Christian Academic: A Brief Theology
Why Should I Go To Grad School, Anyway?
Committing to grad school means time, money and, for most of us, anxiety. An early graying head is a sign of a PhD candidate. Despite the cost, many of us enter into this commitment without much deep reflection on the function of grad school. Sure, we consider the end result—a higher pay rate, power to help those who can't help themselves, accomplishment of our dreams, and so on—but questions of real, ultimate purpose often go unanswered. Why is a higher paying job more desirable? Why should we want to help the poor … [Read more...] about Why Should I Go To Grad School, Anyway?
Becoming a Thoughtful Christian in the Secular Academy: Part II
Last week I wrote about my journey as a developing follower of Jesus in a secular university. I told you that I'd become a stronger Christian during my time in the academic world, and now I want to tell you a little bit about what happened in my mind and heart during that time. This post is, to an extent, a response to Andy Walsh's question in the comment thread of last week's post in this series: You mentioned that your Christian faith is stronger as a result of the experience. Did you find that aspects of your … [Read more...] about Becoming a Thoughtful Christian in the Secular Academy: Part II
Becoming a Thoughtful Christian in the Secular Academy
One month ago yesterday I walked the stage to pick up a diploma in Religious Studies at a secular institution. And I'm a stronger Christian than ever. In the Religious Studies department at the University of Montana I learned how to study history with careful eyes, how to debate subtle philosophy with gentleness and confidence, how to respect professors and peers with opposing views on foundational beliefs, and, perhaps most importantly, I learned how to critically examine my place in and beliefs about the story that … [Read more...] about Becoming a Thoughtful Christian in the Secular Academy