Organizing a Christian Mind. A Theology of Higher Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This book is a theological essay on education, particularly higher education in a Roman Catholic context. The book is organized as a fourfold delineation of reality, with one chapter given to each component. An introductory chapter deals with teaching, research and publication, and with theology: the Christian faith, and the difference God makes. Chapter 1 reflects on human nature on death, work, love, ritual, ignorance, and sin and their practical and theoretical implications for higher education. Chapter 2 deals with physical nature in creation of the material world, the ecosphere, physical science, and a sustainable lifestyle; their practical and theoretical implications for higher education are discussed. Chapter 3 focuses on politics as it relates to the common good, the church, governance, ministry, law, persuasion; and discusses their practical and theoretical implications for education. Chapter 4 deals with divinity, seen to be the core reality. Subtopics include transcendence, immanence, healing, grace, crucifixion, resurrection. Chapter 5 relates these four aspects directly to education in sections on students, community service, academic freedom, arts and sciences, religious studies, creativity, the college as a contemplative colony, and administration. A concluding section addresses broader issues of vision, social support, lifelong learning, education and church control, theology and church control, and wisdom and dying. (DB)