John, this is an exciting development and one I sense is needed not only for faculty but also for students at these institutions. As a graduate student, I have been one of the only Christians in my program and have often wanted to be able to discuss the particulars of my course content with a Christian faculty member in my field. There are some disciplines (likely the arts) where there appear to be few faculty with a faith commitment. Having a fellowship that draws from a number of disciplines, especially where there tend to be fewer mentors, where there is shared thinking, discussing, and writing at this level would be tremendous.
A couple years ago, my pastor at the time was using a headline about Christian students at Duke as an example. (I’m sorry I cannot give you a source.) The students did not like a book they had to read for a class because it dealt with abortion, so they evidently boycotted the class. To my pastor credit, he was using this as an example of what Christians should not do at a secular university. I thought of the boycott when I read the Newbigin Fellows comment. Christian students studying at non-Christian universities are uniquely positioned to engage across deep differences, too. I think a lot about you and Jeff as students who never boycotted a class you didn’t agree with. I really think Christians cannot be a part of this snowflake-cancel culture. If the Christian is not ready to engage with hard topics and professors, they should not be going to secular colleges and universities.
Congrats! This is exciting.
John, this is an exciting development and one I sense is needed not only for faculty but also for students at these institutions. As a graduate student, I have been one of the only Christians in my program and have often wanted to be able to discuss the particulars of my course content with a Christian faculty member in my field. There are some disciplines (likely the arts) where there appear to be few faculty with a faith commitment. Having a fellowship that draws from a number of disciplines, especially where there tend to be fewer mentors, where there is shared thinking, discussing, and writing at this level would be tremendous.
A couple years ago, my pastor at the time was using a headline about Christian students at Duke as an example. (I’m sorry I cannot give you a source.) The students did not like a book they had to read for a class because it dealt with abortion, so they evidently boycotted the class. To my pastor credit, he was using this as an example of what Christians should not do at a secular university. I thought of the boycott when I read the Newbigin Fellows comment. Christian students studying at non-Christian universities are uniquely positioned to engage across deep differences, too. I think a lot about you and Jeff as students who never boycotted a class you didn’t agree with. I really think Christians cannot be a part of this snowflake-cancel culture. If the Christian is not ready to engage with hard topics and professors, they should not be going to secular colleges and universities.