Do we need a Christian university?
by Nigel Paterson, for the Cambridge Papers
Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 12:29 (BST)
Dr Nigel Paterson,a guest contributor toCambridge Papers, trained as a natural scientist at the University of Cambridge and subsequently as a middle school teacher. Over the past twenty years he has worked in higher education. He is church leader of Immanuel Church, Winchester and a senior lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at The University of Winchester. His EdD thesis was on 'The identity and core values of Church Colleges and Universities in twenty-first century Britain'.
The Cambridge Papers Vol 17 No 3, September 2008. The Cambridge Papers are published by the Jubilee Centre www.jubilee-centre.org Printed with permission.
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[1] Department for Education and Skills, The Future of Higher Education, Stationery Office, 2003.
[2] D. Pawson, The Challenge of Islam to Christians, Hodder, 2003.
[3] D. A. Carson, 'Can there be a Christian university?', Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 1998, pp.20-28.
[4] G. Marsden, The Soul of the American University, Oxford University Press, 1994.
[5] Church of England Board of Education, Mutual Expectations: The Church of England and Church Colleges / Universities, 2006.
[6] Serampore College (2008), 'History'. Retrieved from www.seramporecollege.org/asc/aschistory.htm
[7] R. Benne, Quality With Soul: How six premier colleges and universities keep faith with their religious traditions, Eerdmans, 2001.
[8] N. Paterson, The Identity and Values of Church Colleges and Universities in Twenty-first Century Britain, EdD thesis, University of Southampton, 2007.
[9] Ps. 24:1.
[10] Mark 12:30.
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 10:57 (GMT)
I am amazed that some people think secular education is not based on some faith principles. Surely all education is based on some assumptions about what to teach, about what the world is like, about the nature of the child/young person? If we are going to educate people you had better be sure that you start from good ground. Are we convinced that the secular grounds are stable? In today's world we ought to be re-examining this very basis of our position. The great thing about the Christian Faith is that it is rock solid and has never changed. The Bible stands head and shoulders above all other ideas simply because it is a revelation of the Son of God.
Dr Mike Viccary, Croos Hills UK
Added: Friday, October 3, 2008, 1:26 (BST)
The idea of a Christian university in the 21st century is appalling. As the west ridicules the Muslim madrassah's for being terror factories where children are blined with untruths.... here we are thinking about creating a Christian version at the university level.
Christianity and 'education' should not be uttered in the same breath... or any religion and 'education' for that matter.
Education is far from 'faith', and 'faith' has no place in a truly educational establishment.
"Training' of course, and 'Instruction'... well, that is what any religion demands, but real thinking, via a process of real education... is a world away from what is on offer.
Let's have schools that educate, and universities that educate, and lets leave 'faith based' training where it belongs... for those who do not want to be educated at all.
Howard Haighter, Sydney Australia
