http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/comments-rss.php Comments RSS for ESN en-us Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:01:56 -0600 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/christian-publications#com2013 Christian Publications

"Don't forget Fides et Historia, the Journal of the Conference on Faith and History...."  read on » ]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:01:56 -0600 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/advice-to-scholars#com1999 Advice to Those Who Would Be Christian Scholars

"Many thanks to Dr. Wolterstorff for these words and to ESN for publishing them. Oddly enough, one of the hardest things to do as a Christian scholar is to get clear on precisely what it means to be one (see the opening paragraph). It is very helpful for younger folks like me to hear the reflections of the seasoned minds. Keep it coming!..."  read on » ]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:07:00 -0600 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/loving-god-in-the-flesh-in-the-real-world#com1985 Loving God in the Flesh in the Real World

"Thanks for posting this-- a welcome reminder that Christ died so that we who live should no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died for us. Thanks!..."  read on » ]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:14:32 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/why-get-a-phd-in-the-humanities#com1941 Why Get a PhD in the Humanities?

"I don't think that anyone provided a good argument against what Benton had to say. And I think from a pragmatic viewpoint - that he is right, because our education system is becoming outdated. (proven by useless Phd's) If Christians don't begin to think of how to change this out-dated system that produces useless Phd's, then the secular world will; to our loss. Maybe it is time for Christian Phd's to be proactive and change the current academic model. Whatever happened to teaching a person a trade alongside of their higher education? Wasn't Paul taught to be a tent maker? Didn't, Newton, Liebnitz and DeCarte all dabble in Engineering? Why do Engineering and Philosophy have to be seperated? What about combineing Marketing and Intercultural study programs to give students an edge in a global-missional-advertising? The current model of Phd education focuses and refines peopel down to one specific topic of research at the end of their education; why not change the model to one where academia focuses on producing people with highly marketable skills in conjuction with a specific field of study, topped off with a good liberal perspective. A liberal education is all well and good; But why require a general liberal education at the begining of collegiate education? Why not offer focused graduate work at the bachelors level, provide a trade at the masters level, and then broaden into a liberal arts education at the doctorate level? All this is to say - Why winge about Phd's not being of any use, when we have the ability to change what Phd means - and have a real effect on a radically changing world. Unless there can be some real good arguments as to why to get a Phd in the humanities - then I believe we should be looking at how to change the system to better the student, enable them to affect the world, and glorify God in the process...."  read on » ]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:23:28 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/why-get-a-phd-in-the-humanities#com1932 Why Get a PhD in the Humanities?

"Few students consult older and wiser mentors regarding their calling. For them, their calling is romantic, personal, and individualistic. But God calls us within the community of His people and for His own sake. And, as Dr. Pannapacker noted, calling and execution may have numerous paths of fulfillment and obedience. Rather than dissuade students from certain paths generally, let's persuade students to seek the prayerful counsel of elders and their church...."  read on » ]]> Fri, 15 May 2009 10:27:26 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/why-get-a-phd-in-the-humanities#com1931 Why Get a PhD in the Humanities?

"Everett and William, Thanks so much for your contributions and conversation. William brings up a good point concerning the issue of "calling" - your calling has to be understood in a larger context beyond your personal feelings based on your own limited experiences. For a fuller perspective on "calling," I'd recommend Marc Baer's article "What is Calling?" (http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/what-is-calling), my own article "The Calling of a Christian Scholar" (http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/calling-of-a-christian-scholar), and the resources on vocation and calling in ESN's core bibliography (http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/core-bibliography). Os Guinness' and Gordon Smith's books on calling are excellent, though even those should be read alongside books like _Professors Who Believe_ and _Exiles in Eden_ for a sense of calling to (or away from!) the university. ..."  read on » ]]> Fri, 15 May 2009 07:30:34 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/why-get-a-phd-in-the-humanities#com1930 Why Get a PhD in the Humanities?

"I'm glad to have participated in this conversation, and especially appreciate Bill taking the opportunity to respond. Thanks for asking, Mike, and to everyone else for the ideas. Everett..."  read on » ]]> Thu, 14 May 2009 15:29:58 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/why-get-a-phd-in-the-humanities#com1924 Why Get a PhD in the Humanities?

"I am grateful for your thoughtful responses to my columns about graduate school in the humanities. I am sympathetic to the criticisms that have been presented, particularly regarding the idea of "calling." That's what sent me graduate school, too: I believe I had a vocation, and I was determined to follow it at all costs. (Though I am now sure I could have followed many paths to fulfill that vocation; I just didn't have enough experience to know what else might be available.) Being young, I had no idea what those costs would really involve, or the kind of responsibilities I would assume later. All of my professors said going into academe was a good career move, thanks to the massive demand for professors that would appear at the end of 90s, when I would graduate. I also had a calling to be a husband, a father, and a son on whom others would be dependent. So, despite what I had been told, one calling eventually became incompatible with another (12K, no benefits)--unless I could somehow win the job lottery (fortunately, I did, but I have no illusions that it was because I deserved it anymore than dozens of people I know who never moved beyond adjunct status). Most students go into academe (or they once did) with the idea that it is a realistic career for someone who is not necessarily commited to a monastic lifestyle. Or taking an economic risk that, in some disciplines, is greater than professional sports. I see little evidence--besides the anecdotes of already well-connected people--that a doctorate in the arts or humanities transfers well into the non-academic labor market. I wish it wasn't that way, and I am working at Hope to help create options for students with such sensibilities to take them into places where they were formally excluded because of a lack of easily acquired technical skills. In any case, the idea of "calling," like the idea of going to graduate school for "love," still strikes me as inherently problematic when the person called has never really tried another life path. Moreover, as I pointed out in my first piece, those students often feel "called" because they are emerging from a lifetime of institutional grooming to achieve that feeling and to exclude other possibilities that might fulfill a genuine calling in any number of other ways that do not help sustain a self-evidently broken and exploitative system. I am arguing that such students--and advisors--need to consider alternatives before making such a long-term commitment. They also need to confirm that they really are called to the kind of work they will do. For example, ask them to read a scholarly book on a subject that interests them and discuss it with you. Most of time, I've found that they are not interested in scholarship (or teaching, someting else in which they rarely have experience); they are enamoured of the idea of graduate school for all the reasons I mentioned in the first piece. I believe in calling, but I know there is a system in place designed to create that feeling and capitalize on it, not for the benefit of the student or any larger purpose than the cutting of costs in the delivery of undergraduate education. Thank you all for responses; I do see how--from a Christian perspective (one I share)--I neglected an important component of the experiences of students by writing in the default secular mode of Chronicle. I must admit that I feel called to write on this subject based on my experiences (and thousands of letters of support over the years since I started writing on academic labor), but I also believe people of good will can approach this topic differently based on what they have seen. ..."  read on » ]]> Sun, 10 May 2009 09:20:46 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/calling-of-a-christian-scholar#com1844 The Calling of a Christian Scholar

"Interesting article. It's introduction could be a little dreary to some in academe or those hoping to get into academe. However, there is one area of academe that is hurting for faculty & especially PhD-prepared faculty - that's Nursing. The average age of nursing faculty is 58 years with many planning to retire in 10 years or less. The average age of the practicing (bedside) nurse is 43(ish) & there are less & less entering the field. Nursing needs more Christian faculty who will promote Christ's teaching & "culture". Nursing also needs more Christians working in the field. Maybe then, the "eat our young" mentality will dwindle & fade. Thank you...."  read on » ]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:50:28 -0500 http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/resource/calling-of-a-christian-scholar#com1817 The Calling of a Christian Scholar

""the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all." Meritocracy works only 10% of the time in this sinful world ..."  read on » ]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:35:31 -0500