Liberal Arts for the Christian Life

Marc Notes: This book has been written by some of professor Ryken's many colleagues from Wheaton College as a way of honoring his service as a teacher, scholar, mentor, and friend. pg.12; Includes bibliographical references and index.; For over forty years, Leland Ryken has championed and modeled a Christian liberal arts education. His scholarship and commitment to integrating faith with learning in the classroom have influenced thousands of students who have sat under his winsome teaching. Published in honor of Professor Ryken and presented on the occasion of his retirement from Wheaton College, this compilation carries on his legacy of applying a Christian liberal arts education to all areas of life. Five sections explore the background of a Christian liberal arts education, its theological basis, habits and virtues, differing approaches, and ultimate aims. Contributors including Philip Ryken, Jeffry Davis, Duane Litfin, John Walford, Alan Jacobs, and Jim Wilhoit analyze liberal arts as they relate to the disciplines, the Christian faith, and the world. Also included are a transcript of a well-known 1984 chapel talk delivered by Leland Ryken on the student's calling and practical chapters on how to read, write, and speak well. Comprehensive in scope, this substantial volume will be a helpful guide to anyone involved in higher education, as well as to students, pastors, and leaders looking for resources on the importance of faith in learning. - Publisher. Biographical Note: JEFFRY C. DAVIS (PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago) is associate professor of English at Wheaton College. He is also the director of Wheaton's Writing Center and Interdisciplinary Studies program. Philip Graham Ryken (PhD, University of Oxford) is the 8th president of Wheaton College and, prior to that, served as senior minister at Philadelphia's historic Tenth Presbyterian Church. He has written or edited over 30 books, including the popular title Loving the Way Jesus Loves, and has lectured and taught at universities and seminaries worldwide. Dr. Ryken and his wife, Lisa, live in Wheaton and have five children. Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) served as professor of English at Wheaton College for over 43 years. He has authored or edited over three dozen books, including The Word of God in English and The Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. He is a frequent speaker at the Evangelical Theological Society and served as literary stylist for the English Standard Version Bible. Duane Litfin (DPhil, Oxford University; PhD, Purdue University) is president emeritus of Wheaton College where he served for seventeen years. He is the author of several books and his writings have appeared in numerous journals and periodicals. Wayne Martindale is Professor of English at Wheaton College, Ill., where he regularly teaches classes on C. S. Lewis. He has edited and contributed to books on Lewis and is co-editor of The Quotable Lewis. Commendation Quotes:"A fitting tribute both to Leland Ryken as a superb teacher, and to the importance of the liberal arts in the life of the Christian mind and soul. Few will fail to benefit from its expanded and enriched vision of the life of faith."--Alister McGrath, Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, King's College, London"This fine volume honors a marvelously gifted evangelical scholar-teacher. But it is itself a significant contribution to the cause that Leland Ryken has served so well, offering much wisdom on what it takes to sustain and nurture a life of the mind that will promote the goals of Christ's kingdom."--Richard J. Mouw, President, Professor of Christian Philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary"Liberal Arts for the Christian Life, written as a collection of reflections on the liberal arts by colleagues of Leland Ryken, certainly captures clearly the range, the richness, and the complexity of the connections between a liberal arts education and the Christian life. Even more compelling is the way the book represents the incarnational nature of a liberal arts education--a single professor embodying a vision of learning that entices thousands of students over several generations to follow in his footsteps, not by becoming more like him but by becoming more fully the unique individuals that God created them to be. This book is a 'must read' for Christian liberal arts educators and their students!"--Shirley A. Mullen, President, Houghton College "Clement of Alexandria, one of the earliest proponents of Christian liberal arts education, observed that excellence in such educational attainment was widely regarded in the second century as evidence that a person was a Christian. The authors of this volume likewise affirm that liberal learning centered in Christ ought to be the trademark of Christians in any walk of life today. In a fitting tribute to the life work of Leland Ryken, they have created a lively and accessible introduction to the advantages of such an education for a young Christian who wishes to grow in maturity and wisdom."--David Lyle Jeffrey, Distinguished Professor of Literature and the Humanities, Baylor University"All who love the life of the mind, who care about the education of our youth, or who are devoted to the intellectual and spiritual vibrancy of our churches will relish this diverse collection of essays by premier Christian scholars and academic leaders. Liberal Arts for the Christian Life is both a fitting tribute to an extraordinary Christian college professor and a most welcome collection of thoughtful excursions into the enduring purposes of the liberal arts in the Christian college curriculum."--Darryl Tippens, Provost, Pepperdine University"This volume provides a rich collection of wisdom concerning Christian liberal arts education. Students will find in it valuable guidelines for reflecting on how to get the most out of their education. It is an apt tribute to a scholar who has dedicated his career to imparting such wisdom, and this book should be provided to help carry on such work into the future."--George M. Marsden, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus, University of Notre Dame; author, The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship"The beneficial impact of Leland Ryken's contributions to God's kingdom extends far beyond the campus of Wheaton College. The scholarly work of faculty from across Christian higher education has been influenced in professional development workshops led by Dr. Ryken including 'The Bible as Literature, ' 'The Bible in Literature, ' and other topics related to his own research and writing. With dignity, warmth, and great dedication, Dr. Ryken has invested himself in the intellectual and spiritual development of others. This festschrift represents a collective and heartfelt 'thank you' from the authors and on behalf of so many others!"--Karen A. Longman, Professor and Program Director, Department of Doctoral Higher Education, Azuza Pacific University"This celebration of the liberal arts through the eyes of Christian faith pays a fitting tribute to Dr. Leland Ryken's many contributions to this great conversation. May students and future colleagues reap the blessings of the seeds sown in this text for many more generations."--Michael Le Roy, President-elect, Calvin College"Higher education is undergoing an awakening, and in Liberal Arts for the Christian Life we have a clarion call to the liberal arts through dedicated Christian learning. Leland Ryken--a teacher of English and a scholar of Milton--has spent his life asking students to think about the purpose of education, careers, and lives; in this volume he is celebrated by his colleagues who, in turn, are asking these questions of their own students. Whether Christian or not, educators will want to read this book, asking students to read in it, too--that is, if they want them to consider what the liberal arts are for." --J. Scott Lee, Executive Director, Association for Core Texts and Courses, Liberal Arts Institute at? Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaTable of Contents: Preface -- The Student's Calling, Leland Ryken -- Introduction -- Section 1. Terminology and Background -- 1. The Countercultural Quest of Christian Liberal Arts / Jeffiy C. Davis -- 2. Liberal Education and Book Learning / Lisa Richmond -- 3. Evangelicals, Colleges, and American Nation Building / Edith Blumhofer -- Section 2. Theological Convictions -- 4. Liberal Arts Education and the Doctrine of Humanity / Roger Lundin -- 5. Faithful Christian Learning / Jeffrey P. Greenman -- 6. Liberal Arts as a Redemptive Enterprise / Wayne Martindale -- 7. Loving God as the Key to a Christian Liberal Arts Education / Duane Litfin -- Section 3. Habits and Virtues -- 8. The Lost Tools of Learning and the Habits of a Scholarly Mind / Marjorie Lamp Mead -- 9. How to Read a Book / Alan Jacobs -- 10. Writing for Life / Shawn Coolidge -- 11. Listening, Speaking, and the Art of Living / Kenneth R. Chase -- 12. Educating for Intellectual Character / Jay Wood -- 13. Beyond Building a Resume / Stephen B. Ivester -- Section 4. Divisional Areas of Study -- 14. A World of Discovery through the Natural Sciences / Dorothy F. Chappell -- 15. Exploring a Universe of Relationships through the Social Sciences / Henry Allen -- 16. The Humanities as Indulgence or Necessity? / Jill Pelaez Baumgaertner -- 17. Singing God's Praise / Michael Wilder -- 18. Learning to Perceive through Visual Art / E. John Walford -- 19. Theater as an Imperfect Mirror / Mark Lewis -- Section 5. The End of Christian Liberal Arts -- 20. Social Media and the Loss of Embodied Communication / Read Mercer Schuchardt -- 21. Learning to Live Redemptively in Your Own Body / Peter Walters -- 22. Personal Formation and the Understanding Heart / James Wilhoit -- 23. Learning for a Lifetime / John H. Augustine -- 24. The Gospel, Liberal Arts, and Global Engagement / Tamara Townsend -- 25. Liberal Arts in the New Jerusalem / Philip G. Ryken -- Contributors -- Cover Art Credits -- General Index -- Scripture Index. Publisher Marketing: For over forty years, Leland Ryken has championed and modeled a Christian liberal arts education. His scholarship and commitment to integrating faith with learning in the classroom have influenced thousands of students who have sat under his winsome teaching. Published in honor of Professor Ryken and presented on the occasion of his retirement from Wheaton College, this compilation carries on his legacy of applying a Christian liberal arts education to all areas of life. Five sections explore the background of a Christian liberal arts education, its theological basis, habits and virtues, differing approaches, and ultimate aims. Contributors including Philip Ryken, Jeffry Davis, Duane Litfin, John Walford, Alan Jacobs, and Jim Wilhoit analyze liberal arts as they relate to the disciplines, the Christian faith, and the world. Also included are a transcript of a well-known 1984 chapel talk delivered by Leland Ryken on the student's calling and practical chapters on how to read, write, and speak well. Comprehensive in scope, this substantial volume will be a helpful guide to anyone involved in higher education, as well as to students, pastors, and leaders looking for resources on the importance of faith in learning. Contributor Bio:  Ryken, Philip Graham Philip Graham Ryken (Ph. D., Oxford) is President of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He is Bible teacher for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and can be heard weekly on the radio broadcast Every Last Word. He has written or edited more than thirty books including The Message of Salvation, The Doctrines of Grace (with James Montgomery Boice) and Ryken's Bible Handbook. Contributor Bio:  Ryken, Leland Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) is professor emeritus of English at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and the author or editor of nearly forty books, including "Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible". Contributor Bio:  Litfin, Duane Duane Litfin (DPhil, Oxford University; PhD, Purdue University) is president emeritus of Wheaton College where he served for seventeen years. He previously served as senior pastor of First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee and as an associate professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. He also taught at Purdue University and Indiana University. Litfin's writings have appeared in numerous journals and periodicals, and he is the author of several books such asConceiving the Christian College, Public Speaking: A Handbook for Christians and Word vs. Deed: Resetting the Scales to a Biblical Balance. He and his wife Sherri have three married children and nine grandchildren. Contributor Bio:  Lundin, Roger Roger Lundin is associate professor of literature at Wheaton College, Illinois. Contributor Bio:  Allen, Henry Allen was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2000. He has been a feature writer and editor for the Washington Post since 1970. Contributor Bio:  Chappell, Dorothy F Dorothy F. Chappell is dean of natural and social sciences and professor of biology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. Contributor Bio:  Greenman, Jeffrey P Jeffrey P. Greenman is Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies and Professor of Christian Ethics at Wheaton College (IL). Read M. Schuchardt is Associate Professor of Communication at Wheaton College (IL). Noah J. Toly is Director of Urban Studies and Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Wheaton College (IL). Contributor Bio:  Lewis, Mark After graduating from the University of Bristol, Mark Lewis spent a year teaching in Singapore, during which time he regularly contributed to the" Singapore Strait Times". He is now editor of the award-winning "Caterer and Hotelkeeper" and is co-author of The Rough Guide to Vietnam and The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Contributor Bio:  Martindale, Wayne Martindale is Professor of English at Wheaton College, IL, where he regularly teaches classes on C. S. Lewis. Contributor Bio:  Schuchardt, Read Mercer Jeffrey P. Greenman is Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies and Professor of Christian Ethics at Wheaton College (IL). Read M. Schuchardt is Associate Professor of Communication at Wheaton College (IL). Noah J. Toly is Director of Urban Studies and Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Wheaton College (IL). Contributor Bio:  Wilhoit, James Jim Wilhoit is a professor in the Christian Formation and Ministry Department at Wheaton, IL. He has been the recipient of a grant to study healing prayer and recently took a sabbatical to study the spiritual disciplines, including prayer. Currently, he teaches classes on prayer and the dynamics of spiritual growth, both of which include segments on prayer as an essential part of a Christian's growth. Among the many books Jim has worked on as an editor and writer are "The Christian Educator's Handbook on Spiritual Formation" (1998) and "107 Questions Children Ask about Prayer" (1998). Contributor Bio:  Jacobs, Alan Alan Jacobs is a professor of literature at Wheaton College. He is the author of several collections of essays, including the recent Shaming the Devil: Essays in Truthtelling. A cultural critic and journalist, his work appears in such publications as First Things, Christianity Today, The Weekly Standard, Books and Culture and the Oxford American.