A friend who works in campus ministry asked me for advice recently. He had heard about a difficult situation at another university and was wondering what I would say to the student: There is a student in a philosophy class here, where the professor is incredibly disrespectful towards Christians. How do you usually encourage your students to respond, and what advice do you usually give them? It appears there are not many Christians in the class, and if there are, they all laugh at the professor and go along with … [Read more...] about How Should Students Respond to Anti-Christian Professors?
Faculty
Approaching a New Semester
Editor's note: A powerful piece received a few weeks ago, I encourage you to join the author and myself in prayer for the new term. . . . I have to admit a certain fear as the new semester approaches. Not so much about the teaching itself. It's a lot of work, but I've done it before. What incites fear in me is the realization that I — with all my insecurities, faults and failures —am again being given sixty-some students for four hours a week for fifteen weeks. This is more time than they will spend with their … [Read more...] about Approaching a New Semester
Is Bible Belt Christianity Relevant to Christians in Academia?
Last week, as I began my review of Omri Elisha's Moral Ambition, I quoted a line that resonated strongly with me: Here in the Bible Belt, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger. In the comments to my post, however, not everyone agreed about the strength of this sound bite. As I've reflected on the conversation, I've wondered if the difference in understanding is related to a difference in context —specifically, the difference between hearing the line in the … [Read more...] about Is Bible Belt Christianity Relevant to Christians in Academia?
Serving Christ as a Professor: Suggested Readings from Urbana 12
Below are suggested readings from my Urbana 12 seminar Serving Christ as a Professor. These are books or essays that Emerging Scholars Network staff and members have found especially helpful to their journey toward becoming a faculty member. In each section, foundational or introductory selections are listed first, followed by books that are either more advanced or written for a specialized audience. Be sure to also see our list of Best Books for Undergraduates from Urbana 09, as suggested by our blog readers. We … [Read more...] about Serving Christ as a Professor: Suggested Readings from Urbana 12
Excerpt: On the Dangers of “Using” Scripture
Longtime readers of the blog and members of the Emerging Scholars Network know we have a close relationship with InterVarsity Faculty Ministry. Where ESN helps students and young faculty who are pursuing academic careers, Faculty Ministry serves current faculty, primarily at secular universities, through on-campus gatherings, regional conferences, and The Lamp Post, an email journal edited by Tom Trevethan. In the Lamp Post, Tom published an essay "On the Dangers of 'Using' Scripture," which serves as a … [Read more...] about Excerpt: On the Dangers of “Using” Scripture