Lectures

Dr. David I. Smith, a Calvin College Professor and Director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, has spent his life developing ways to incorporate the Christian values he holds dear into the secular language subjects he loves to teach. In this speech given on March 1 at Brigham Young University, he gives his advice on how to bridge the gap between the two, thus creating an improved learning experience for both teachers and students. He challenges academic norms that have crept into every subject and that cause students to see subjects in a selfish and 2 dimensional way. His discussion is a battle cry to teachers of faith everywhere to teach better, more engaging, and unusual lessons; and not be afraid to use their values to enrich every facet of their teaching.

John D. Caputo discusses the complexities of post-modern religious sentiments.

Robert P. George, McCormick Chair of Jurisprudence, Princeton University, sat down with Richard N. Williams, Director of the Wheatley Institute. Robert P. George discusses the roles of public intellectuals, the virtue of dispassion, and dedicating our lives to the pursuit of truth. George talks about how he came to be involved in the academic field. They delve into the question of why do we argue, and understanding marriage and the importance of conjugal marriage. Religious liberty as a foundational liberty.

Lisa Miller, Professor & Director of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, discusses spiritual development as it pertains to children and adolescents.

Robert P. George is the McCormick Chair in Jurisprudence at Princeton University. In this lecture he discusses just and unjust laws, and political morality. George talks of humanity's ability to flourish or fail to flourish, what religion is, and faith's incapability to be coerced. He goes through and analyzes a quotation from Nostra Aetate, the Declaration of the Church to Non-Christian Religions.

James Smith, professor at Calvin College, makes a case against rising secularism, emphasizing the continued presence of spirituality, and he asserts that a secularist explanation of humanity cannot account for spiritually motivated behaviors.

Darin Davis, professor at Baylor University, addresses the pursuit of wisdom in educational objectives, discussing how the emphasis on values has shifted in contemporary moral and intellectual goals of education.

Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, examines what it means to be an interfaith leader, focusing on the difficulties and benefits of diversity.

Terrance Olson, professor at Brigham Young University, discusses how education can foster correct moral principles, and asserts that moral sensibility is central to humanity.

Roger Porter, professor at Harvard University, shares the qualities of great American political leaders, claiming that the greatest leaders have a goal-oriented management style.

Michael Wilkins, professor at Biola University, discusses the conflict between the Utah Legislature and the State Board of Education regarding executive authority for public school policy.

Gary Fenstermacher, professor at the University of Michigan, presents a plan for education with a limited federal government role and the purpose of advancing and ennobling humankind. oct 31 2008