As I read this first chapter, I found myself largely agreeing with what Noll was proposing; evangelicals have and do seem to be absent from the public square when it comes to intellectual vigor. He suggests that one of the reasons this is so is because we bow to the 'urgencies of the moment' (12) and prop up that which seems ready to topple. We succeed at proclamation, evangelism, charity, justice, and generosity toward supporting certain Christian institutions but fail when it comes to developing our minds and assisting other evangelicals to develop their minds.
I wonder (and Noll seems open here) what should be done in our own lives to stymie this flood and prepare the way for even reversing its flow. Each of the members of this blog seems to be capable and in a unique enough life situation to address this problem by becoming a professor at a research university if he desired. But is that what we do? Part of my uneasiness in continuing to a doctoral degree in Christian studies is that the market is already flooded with Christians doing this, as Noll points out. Why not stand at a different post where Christians are absent? Do we form evangelical publications? Do we support others that are bridging this gap? I suppose I just wonder that if Noll raises a true critique, how do we as individuals and as communities respond?
Blog on!
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Cover
Schedule
June 1-7- Chapter 1
June 8-14 - Chapter 2
June 15-21 - Chapter 3
June 22-29 - Chapter 4
June 30-July 5 - Chapter 5
July 6-12 - Chapter 6
July 13-19 - Chapter 7
July 20-26 - Chapter 8
July 27-Aug. 2- Chapter 9
1 comment:
Brian, i like the ideas Noll is throwing out but to an extent. Should there be more Christians in research institutions, yes there should be. However, do we need a Christian Research Institution (which i think he implies we should), no i don't. I think that these are areas where it would be easy to live within but not of the culture to reach out to those around us. I think the same holds true here for Christian Colleges, do they serve a purpose, sure they do, but we should be pushing for things like the CSC instead. Bringing Christ to them instead of creating where He is and waiting for them to come to us.
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