Literature
-
How are we reading?
John Stonestreet from Summit got my attention in an article he wrote March 12, 2009.
“Personally, I am much more concerned about how we are reading than what we reading. Most of the students I work with, in high school and college, show just an utter lack of discernment in both their reading choices and their reading practice. Not that we should just read anything—that is actually my point. When the average Christian cannot tell the difference between good books and bad ones, the bigger problem is with the Christian who is reading and not the book being read.
I offer you two great quotes, and one great book, on this way of thinking:
- “For every new book, read three old ones.” (C.S. Lewis)
- “If you still buy the books at the front of the Christian bookstore, stop it.” (Kevin Bywater)
- Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985)."
-
Reclaiming the Christian intellectual tradition
Joe Neff, editor of The Principal Connection introduced me to this series recently. It "is particularly designed for Christian students and others associated with college and university campuses.... The contributors...explore how the Bible has been interpreted in the history of the church, as well as how theology has been formulated. They will ask: How does the Christian faith influence our understanding of culture, literature, philosophy, government, beauty, art, or work? How does the Christian intellectual tradition help us understand truth? How does the Christian intellectual tradition shape our approach to education?"
If you're looking for something to stimulate your thinking about a particular area, these books would be a great place to start. There are Kindle, paperback and print-to-order paperback versions to fit various price ranges.
Ethics and Moral Reasoning: A Student's Guide
Political Thought: A Student's Guide
Art and Music: A Student's Guide
The Natural Sciences: A Student's Guide
The Liberal Arts: A Student's Guide
Christian Worldview: A Student's Guide
The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking: A Student's Guide
“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”
Oscar Wilde