Note: In the first post of the Is Reality Secular? series, Mary Poplin shared what led her to write her new InterVarsity Press publication. Tom: I have found Is Reality Secular? truly serving as a "resource for living in and actively influencing our culture without being overtaken by it." Thank-you Mary. To assist the Emerging Scholar who has not yet had the opportunity to read and discuss your new publication, please give a brief snapshot of the four global worldviews with which you … [Read more...] about Snapshots of Four Global Worldviews (Mary Poplin)
secular humanism
Religion, Education, and the Meaning of Life
Over the last couple of weeks, I've been sharing my reflections on Anthony Kronman's 2007 book Education's End: Why Our Colleges and Universities Have Given Up on the Meaning of Life. While I believe that his core argument is insightful, it's marred by a few blind spots. Originally, I was going to address Kronman's treatement of religion as one of his blind spots, but I've decided that his handling of religion is so problematic —and so harmful to his case —that it deserves its own post. Here's a brief summary of … [Read more...] about Religion, Education, and the Meaning of Life
Three Blind Spots in Education’s End
Last week, I shared my appreciation for Anthony Kronman's critique of higher education and defense of the humanities, Education's End: Why Our Colleges and Universities Have Given Up on the Meaning of Life. This week, I'd like to examine a few of Kronman's blind spots. Next week, I'll take a look at how Kronman treats religion in his discussions of education and the meaning of life. The first two blind spots, in my view, don't necessarily undermine Kronman's central argument, but the book could have been much … [Read more...] about Three Blind Spots in Education’s End
Have Colleges Given Up on the Meaning of Life?
I periodically dip into my ever-growing "to read" pile and select a book that I should have read several years ago. So, a few weeks ago, I started on Anthony T. Kronman's defense of the humanities and critique of contemporary higher education, Education's End: Why Our Colleges and Universities Have Given Up on the Meaning of Life. Kronman served for a decade as the Dean of the Yale Law School. Since 2004, he has taught in the Yale Directed Studies program, which is a one-year "Great Books"-style program for … [Read more...] about Have Colleges Given Up on the Meaning of Life?
“Finding Our Calcutta” on Campus
Over the past several days in venue after venue across Pittsburgh and South Central PA, I heard Mary Poplin, Professor of Education at Claremont Graduate University, share not only her testimony, but also the cost of following Christ in higher education. As you may remember from The Unlikely Conversion of a Radical Scholar and Appendix A of Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service, Mary considers it part of her call/Calcutta to challenge the gods of our age as they reign on … [Read more...] about “Finding Our Calcutta” on Campus