Two weeks ago, I was at InterVarsity's Cedar Campus for our 2009 Midwest Faculty Conference. John Sommerville, professor emeritus of history at U. Florida and author of The Decline of the Secular University, was the featured speaker. He spoke about the influence of secularism on the ideas and structures of the university (as he has previously written in the Chronicle), but also discussed new opportunities for Christian scholars in a "postsecular" university. The third of his four talks addressed a key question: How … [Read more...] about Can New Symbols Change Academic Culture?
culture-making
Christianity needs to be unfashionable on campus
Would you agree or disagree with me that Christianity* is unfashionable on campus? If so, would you go further with me to argue that Christianity is even more unfashionable on campus than in our larger culture? Whether you agree or disagree with me that Christianity is unfashionable on campus, does Christianity need to be unfashionable on campus? And if so, why and how? … [Read more...] about Christianity needs to be unfashionable on campus
First impressions of BioLogos?
After last night's launch event, BioLogos is up and running full steam. As a member of the academic community, what are your thoughts on the BioLogos Foundation? Can BioLogos accomplish it's ambitious agenda or at least move the conversation closer to where it should be (see below)? Are there particular resources, events, and discussions at BioLogos which impress you or stirr interest in dialogue? BTW, come back tomorrow. I have some thoughts to share regarding ... (well you'll just have to … [Read more...] about First impressions of BioLogos?
The Central PA Christian Scholars Network
Last weekend, my fellow blogger Tom Grosh launched the Central Pennsylvania Christian Scholars Network with an event called "Culture Making on Our Campuses," featuring Andy Crouch, author of Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. (Here's more about the book from Tom himself.) Over 70 people attended, and it sounds like it was a wonderful beginning to a new community of Christian students, faculty, and scholars. Tom has written up a complete recap of the event that we'll be publishing in this month's … [Read more...] about The Central PA Christian Scholars Network
Keeping “to-do lists”
Are to-do lists a helpful tool to getting things done? Or do you find them frustratingly long and seemingly insurmountable? Or do you find them buried under papers or in old documents/post-it notes on your screen, wall, door? Or do you somehow ignore to-do lists entirely? Thanks to Andy Crouch's 5 Questions post on to-do lists, I've had quite a few good conversations with friends and family on this topic. Two pastors of my local congregation have given some interesting feedback on the topic. One quipped that he … [Read more...] about Keeping “to-do lists”