Comments on: Academic freedom vs. Christian orthodoxy: finding a balance

By: Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:26:29 +0000

Historically, Christianity has had difficulty accepting some scientific concepts. The Church thought that believing in a heliocentric galaxy was heresy. I realize that the type of questions evolution raises are very different. But I think it’s important to cling only to what is actually in the Bible. Often we substitute what people assume the Bible is saying for truth.

I don’t think it’s important for someone to believe in evolution, though I do think it’s important to understand the theory. It becomes a problem when people get out into the world and are faced with what science is telling them, and they don’t know how to reconsile that with a literal account of Genesis 1. I’ve seen many people lose faith in situations like that. When you’re faced with “proof” that one part of what you’ve been taught is wrong, it would be good to be able to reconsile beliefs, rather than concluding that the Bible is wrong, or “they’re just stories.”

In my personal opinion, God is mysterious. I don’t think He intended for us to know everything about how our world came to be. The Bible tells us the truths we need to know. It doesn’t tell us everything about everything.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:15:07 +0000

The educational system in America is decreasing and people have seperated faith from the school and instead follow what they want to do. Money is what is driving this nation and many have been taught that there is no fundamental truth. That is why the bible will never go wrong and people need to be lead by the truth to be able to live for others and not for themselves. Most importantly to give one’s life to God and to do his will is the best thing that can happen to a person. Nuff said.

By: Norcross schools

Norcross schools — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:23:38 +0000

Whenever I read phrases such as “Academic freedom” I become an instant skeptic, just like when I read the terms “progressives” or “global warming-then-climate change.” The fact is academic freedom is a myth. I spent 5 years in college and have known thousands of people who came out of universities and colleges. Never met one who wanted me to learn about anything except that which they believed as truth. Well, with the preponderance of “progressives” teaching our young men and women, and the minority of professors fighting to balance the onslought, it’s no wonder the myth exists. It is a human power struggle. Nothing more. Just as history is rewritten by the victors, academic freedom is non-existent for the slaves. It doesn’t matter, we will all be in remedial courses in heaven.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:46:25 +0000

The college I attended had a similar statement of faith to Wheaton’s. We were a bit more lax on Chapel attendance and Creation/Evolution, but not by much. I can say that having everyone on the same page theologically unites the campus in an unique way; however, it also makes it easy to become insulated. You start to think that the campus is representative of the world.

That said, I think it’s Wheaton’s prerogative to decide on their staff and culture. Wheaton appeals to a certain kind of person and it’s comforting on some level to know that they can find it if they want it. Yes, they’re probably losing out on some academic rigor by constraining themselves to a statement of faith, but academics are not their only focus. If they started hiring people outside of their culture and theology it would quickly change the atmosphere of the institution.

By: mike waters

mike waters — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:52:11 +0000

“A little leaven leavens the whole loaf”

By: Stuart McCardle

Stuart McCardle — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:22:44 +0000

It depends on how the college presents itself so that in choosing a college an individual can make a choice based on what he/she wants to learn. I am a southern Baptist by faith. I am firm in my belief and if my money is going to support a Baptist college, then I expect them to employ teachers who can make a statement of faith. Then a person could choose this college or another who doesn’t adhere to this policy based on what they want to learn.A college that wants to be acdemic can be that way, but should not expect support from from the religious groups. I personally would not want to go to a college such as this,because I believe that with such diversity, it would be confusing.