Do we need a Christian university?
by Nigel Paterson, for the Cambridge Papers
Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 12:29 (BST)
[11] e.g. Rom. 1:20.
[12] Jas. 3:13-18.
[13] Prov. 1:7.
[14] H. Blamires, The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian think?, (3rd edn.), Regent College Publishing, 2005.
[15] A. Holmes, The Idea of a Christian College (2nd edn.), Eerdmans, 1987.
[16] J. H. Newman, (F. M. Turner, ed.) The Idea of a University, Yale University Press, 1996.
[17] D. A. Carson, 'Can there be a Christian university?', Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 20-28, 1998.
[18] D. F. Ford, 'God in the University', Public lecture at Leicester University, 10 February 1998; 'The future of Cambridge University', Lady Margaret's Sermon preached in the University Church, Great St. Mary's, Cambridge, 4 November 2001.
[19] I. S. Markham, 'The idea of a Christian university', in J. Astley, L. Francis, J. Sullivan and A. Walker, (eds.), The Idea of a Christian University, Paternoster Press, 2004.
[20] R. Macaulay, 'The great commissions', Cambridge Papers, Vol.7, No.2, 1998.
[21] J. A. Carpenter, 'The perils of prosperity: Neo-Calvinism and the future of religious colleges', in P. J. Dovre, (ed.), The Future of Religious Colleges, Eerdmans, 2002.
[22] VU Amsterdam, 'About VU Amsterdam: History', from www.vu.nl/en/about-vu-amsterdam/mission-and-profile/history/index.asp
[23] M. Scott-Joynt, 'A Christian foundation for intellectual freedom', The Winton Lecture, King Alfred's College, Winchester, 1997.
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
