<p>WP, being a Christian merely means being a follower of Christ. Within our Christian community there is a wide divergence of thought and interpretation. Surely you know this. I would think a theology major would want to have a wide exposure to differing thoughts and interpretations, if, for nothing else, to better understand the population of Christians.</p>
<p>Romans 14 talks quite a bit about accepting those who hold differing views.</p>
<p>NO human gets to judge about who is or who isn’t a Christian. That’s up to God. Besides, the vast majority of differing views are NOT salvation issues. Personally, I think God wants people to have differing thoughts/views/opinions on many issues as it keeps us talking and thinking about Him. If He had wanted single minded robots He certainly could have made us that way or given us a more detailed rule book. The Pharisees certainly tried to (with the rule book), but they were condemned.</p>
<p>FWIW, I know absolutely nothing about Whitworth.</p>
<p>Z … Yes, as noted, I’d seen the Dept of Theology’s carefully professed statement about the authority of the Bible. That is encouraging.</p>
<p>But I’ve not been able to locate any similar institutional statement. And for those familiar with the current state of affairs in the mainline Presbyterian denominational politics (I am), it might lead to questioning any number of issues of a self-acknowledged “pervasively Presbyterian” institution. While not unimportant, let’s leave that one though.</p>
<p>The issue remains, and of course it is central to the issue of Christianity and how that proclamation of faith exhibits itself collectively w/in an institution. And so the question remains unanswered. What is Whitworth’s position of the Bible? </p>
<p>Creekland, I trust your thoughts are meant well, perhaps to defend and counter comments you felt merited both? Thanks especially for your clarification that whatever your other points, you’ve no idea about the answer to the question. Anecdotally, do you know Covenant’s collective collegiate position on the Word? Your definition of what a Christian might be is interesting. Jesus suggested it may be a bit more than simply proclaiming such. And contrary to your notions of width and divergence, Jesus was clear that His way was convergent and narrow. No room for self-invention. In fact that is precisely what landed Adam and Eve and thus you and me in hot water, isn’t it. Yes, religions can and should be studied. But Christianity is exclusive, fine tuned, and precise.</p>
<p>I know that Covenant believes the Bible is infallible and God-ordained (we agree). I also know that they are reformed/Calvinist in teaching (we are not - kiddo there has not felt “left behind” and has not (yet) converted). ;)</p>
<p>I also know they are not particular about what one believes in regard to creation as long as one gives God the credit (old/young, etc). They also teach different interpretations of some of the passages in their Bible classes.</p>
<p>While their profs all have to believe in their Confession of Faith, there is a bit of diversity in individual thought beyond that. There’s also quite a bit of diversity of belief among students.</p>
<p>And I know these because oldest is there, enjoying himself tremendously, and I asked him what they taught in his classes.</p>
<p>Prior to his going there, those weren’t major concerns (within reason). There are Christian schools I’d have crossed off our list if they had come up - both too conservative and too liberal. If I had wanted more exact beliefs to match ours, there were probably “better” schools out there, but I’m perfectly content with the variety at Covenant. Kiddo is there because Covenant meets my academic standards in their Business Department (does VERY well on the MFT - much better than many schools), has their Community Development major (not common at all) and has a professor who “wrote the book” on Microfinance (what kiddo wants to do). Then too, he got very nice merit and need based aid making it affordable.</p>
<p>If there’s one aspect I held out on the longest, it’s that Covenant is SMALL (roughly 1000 students) - too small for my preferences. However, kiddo loves being there and felt at home from his first visit. That sort of preference belongs to him, not me.</p>
<p>Knowing a number of the faculty at Whitworth, as well as something about the school, I would say that the Theology department’s officially posted stance reflects and gives expression to the school’s official stance. As for official PC(USA) discussions, with which I am also familiar, the Whitworth theology faculty at least would be and has been on the traditional and/or conservative end of the spectrum. Whitworth does not require all its faculty to be Presbyterian, although it does require them to be Christian; it does not require its students to be Christian, however.</p>
<p>Z, you must be accurate in your assessment of several things including WC’s projection of the Theology Dept’s POV on biblical authority, altho I’d be particularly interested in the Biology Dept’s POV. And more so what does “authority” mean in terms of that critical notion of Creation. What does it mean? How does Whitworth interpret it? What do professors profess? Even the Theology Dept’s written statement MIGHT be deceptively vague. Was that intentional or merely omission thru benign neglect to be specific? In light of the PC (USA) precipitous, sad decline, it’s a bit surprising that WC’d tout this, especially being a West corridor institution. That might have more clout in PA or Louisville, but in WA? Interesting.</p>
<p>For some, this discussion of the Bible, its institutional POV, use, and interpretation, might seem an anecdotal sideshow. But at the core, isn’t especially the written Word of God critical and central to assessing the “Christianity” of any so-called Christian college? And interestingly, very few of them have much if anything specific to this text in their statements of vision, mission, purpose, values. That in itself might be telling, seems to me.</p>
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<p>While I’ve heard others suggest the same thing,i.e. infallibility yet open to determining what is “taught”, this strikes me as double-talk. Just too “simple”, I am.</p>
<p>It’s not double talk at all. It’s admitting that different sincere Christians look at the same passages and feel God intended them to mean different things. Since none of the apostles nor Jesus is here to answer our questions, we fallible humans can not distinctly say one is correct and the other isn’t. Actually, even the apostles and church fathers didn’t always agree on some points. I know you like to say we all should agree with you, but I prefer to let God speak to me. That’s kind of the heart of Protestantism. We know via Romans 14 that God can, indeed, lead different people to different conclusions and both are correct if they are following the Spirit’s lead to them. </p>
<p>This is not to say there is more than one god or that we are free to make up our own religion. That’s totally different. At Covenant, the general belief is if you can rationally support your views Biblically, it’s ok. Their profs need to align with their denomination (PCA), but there’s still a bit of freedom after the main “facts.” They do, indeed, teach differing interpretations of some passages and let the student decide which they think is correct (Creation is one of them). My son’s prof wouldn’t even say which way he felt was correct with a couple of the passages (including Creation). I like that about them. You may think it’s horrid. That’s your right.</p>
<p>Overall, they tend to have a more conservative view, and they’re definitely reformed/Calvinist. But my son still loves it there and they seem to enjoy having him for friendly debates. He’s not the only differing view either. He loves his profs and the main student body. It has pretty much everything that is “good” about a small LAC IMO. It misses the bells and whistles of a larger college/university, but this son just doesn’t give a hoot about that stuff. He prefers the camaraderie and relationships with the profs while getting his education. I have no regrets letting him go there or supporting them with our $$.</p>
<p>Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I don’t share your conviction that God wants His Word to be deemed ambiguous. I think that’s our “out” for refusing to receive what He’s made clear. </p>
<p>I’m persuaded that even and maybe especially, uniquely, self-proclaimed Christian colleges intentionally avoid defining and proclaiming the institutional view of the biblical Word, fearful of being pinned down intellectually and spiritually. Surprising in that colleges and universities, and more specifically the professoriate, depend upon and magnify the written word. Shouldn’t the Bible be central to how all other texts and the subject matters they illumine are viewed, interpreted, and instructed. As one of my grad school profs noted rightly, “we have to stand somewhere to look at anything.” While we are entitled to determining our own beliefs (God gave that freedom, didn’t He.), institutions should be at least required to explain its understanding, use and implementation among its staff. Indeed, doing so might be one litmus test of its commitment to the Word and more than mere words.</p>
<p>Might you refrain from portending that you know what I think or expect from you, though. Please. Thanks.</p>
<p>Okay, I’m going to be really honest here for a second…how can you possibly put Calvin in the same category as Cedarville, Grove City, Taylor, or Wheaton when “recommending” Christian colleges? Calvin is a good school academically, however, it is extremely liberal, in general, compared to the other Christian colleges on your list. I visited Calvin in 2003 while in high school, and I personally thought it was very liberal for a “Christian” college at the time. Since then, Calvin has become even more liberal (e.g. holding gay pride demonstrations). My problem with your post isn’t political, it’s that your idea of what a Christian college is contradicts itself, based on your recommendations. With all due respect, I just can’t rationalize putting Calvin in the same category as the other Christian colleges in your list.</p>