Volume 46, #1 - November 2008 - Houston Baptist University

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THE TEN PILLARSFAITH & REASONIN A GREAT CITYHBU 8 NewsIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXBuild On The ClassicsRecruit For National InfluenceEmbrace The Challenge OfChristian Graduate EducationEstablish A Residential SocietyOf LearningIncrease Our Cultural ImpactThrough Our FacultyRenew Our Campus, Renew Our CommunityBring Athens And Jerusalem TogetherExpand Our Commitment To The CreativeArts: Visual, Music And LiteraryCultivate A Strong Global FocusMove To The Next Level As An Institution
Thoughts on a <strong>University</strong> Vision:Conversations with Robert SloanWith the release of HBU’s new vision document, TheTen Pillars: Faith and Reason in a Great City (viewableonline at www.hbu.edu/tenpillars), the university hasset out a course to be a pioneer in Christian highereducation. Stakeholders from every part of the universityfamily contributed their input to the vision in sessionswith HBU President Robert Sloan. The documentemerged from a dynamic process with participants beingencouraged to share their dreams for HBU.For the past 15-20 years, Christian colleges anduniversities have been involved in serious reflection onthe question of what makes a Christian college unique.The result of those years of inward examination has beena renewed focus on the Christian faith as an intellectualjourney as well as a religion that, as Wesley put it,strangely warms the heart.As the president of two Christian universities over thecourse of a dozen years, HBU’s Robert Sloan has thoughta great deal about these matters. I prevailed upon himto entertain a few of my questions relating to the idea ofa Christian university and Christian scholarship.- Dr. Hunter BakerHunter Baker (HB): Dr.Sloan, what is a Christianscholar?Robert Sloan (RS): TheChristian scholar is an academicdevoted to inquiry and teachingin the fullest possible sense.There is no such thing as teachingwithout learning, so the teachershould never be content to reston what they know. The ancientswere great teachers because theywere committed to increasing thedepth of their learning. Learningdevelops mastery. Mastery makesa great teacher.HB: How does that vision ofthe Christian scholar relate tothe faith?RS: First off, as Christians webelieve that to know Jesus Christis to somehow be connected tothe ultimate reality behind all ofcreation. Paul argues in Colossians1 against the view that Christ isonly some kind of mediator. Heis the creator of all things and thesustainer of all things, the one whoholds it all together. In short, thecreation is subordinated to him.This is why Abraham Kuyper andothers have been fond of sayingthat there is not one square inchof creation that does not fall underthe lordship of Christ.So the Christian scholar isdevoted to Christ and to truthin Christ. This person also hasto be committed to the coreconvictions of the faith, whichwe find historically, normatively,and indispensably in scripture.A Christian scholar is scriptureshaped.We have to have grappledwith Jesus. The only authenticinterpretation of scripture is inChrist.HB: You mentionedColossians. Could youelaborate on the connectionbetween Colossians and theChristian scholar for me?RS: The basic premise is thatChrist is lord over all of reality. Ifthe Christian believes that, thenthere should be no fear with regardto the discovery of truth. Christianscholars must not be afraid of anyquestions.We should be pre-occupiedby the truth. When I refer totruth, I mean truth understoodbroadly. Knowledge. The pathof the academy has been to try tobreak truth down into digestiblepieces attacked by many differentdisciplines and sub-disciplines.There is definitely value to thatHBU 9 News
Page 1 and 2: HBUNEWSFALL 2008THE TEN PILLARSHOW
Page 3: Vol. 46, No. 1 Fall 2008Managing Ed
Page 7: were stationed at the President’s
Page 11 and 12: New leadership for aneW directionDr
Page 13 and 14: These courses are designed to get s
Page 16 and 17: A Day of DedicationsUniversity Acad
Page 18 and 19: College of Continuing Studies Offer
Page 20 and 21: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEENWORKING ON TH
Page 22 and 23: Brupbacher ’69 honored as2008 Pip
Page 24 and 25: CONTINUING A TRADITION OFEXCELLENCE
Page 26 and 27: PAULA STANG: TAKING THE FLOOR AT TH
Page 28 and 29: The MayfieldOutstanding Staff Award
Page 30 and 31: On the bookshelfTwo faculty have re
Page 32 and 33: HBU receives $1 million donationfro
Page 34 and 35: Bill & Mickey ArnoldHow a Sunday Dr
Page 36 and 37: David & Patti HattonHatton Chapel:
Page 38 and 39: Summer AcademyOnce a student, now a
Page 40 and 41: Randy ‘84 & Cheryl ‘85 SorrelsS
Page 42 and 43: Women’s basketballput to the road
Page 44 and 45: FOUNDREUNIOCLASS O“XXX, PrAthleti
Page 46 and 47: HBUAlum-A-GramShare your news — u
Page 48 and 49: Tracy Lynn Donalson ’03 is a teac
Page 50 and 51: In MemoriamNow faith is being sure
Page 52: “While some only see dirt, I see

Volume 46, #1 - November 2008 - Houston Baptist University

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