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 […]
How to Be a Christian Academic: A Brief Theology
Since Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, he wants to bring everything into his kingdom—the arts, the sciences and, yes, even the humanities.
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]