Academic Connections, International

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Abstract for Podcast Series (below)

     This is a Podcast Series that we are calling Jesus and Academic Culture because that's where we end up. It begins by discussing our analysis of two imporant thinkers, H. R. Niebuhr and D.A. Carson, have had to say about Christians relating to general culture, but then the series focuses on questions like, how do and how should Christian scholars spiritually and intellectually “fit in” at secular universities; and what does academic culture have to do with how we might do evangelism (or perhaps pre-evangelism) in the mileiu of higher education?

     After the introduction, the series begins with an analysis of parts of two books written by Christian scholars. We want to take their insights and what we learn as we analyze and evaluate their work and use that for focusing on what we think evangelicals who are either going into or who are presently members of academe need to understand about academic culture, from a Christian perspective. We’ll also explore ways evangelical Christians within academe can have a positive impact on their culture. While this Podcast series can be used "stand alone," it was intended to be set up by our staff per series with an individual or with a small group involved in our ministry. In our field testing, using that approach with each Podcast (in the series) seems to promote clarity, better resolve ambiguities and create stimulating discussion regarding its implications.

Podcast Series: What Niebuhr and Carson Have to Say about Christ and Culture

     •     Podcast #1: Introduction to the Series (13 min)

          •     Addendum for Podcast #1

     •     Podcast #2: Chapter 1 from Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture (20:48 min)

          •     Handout A (Notes on “Acknowledgments" & "Chapter 1")

          •     Resource B (Slides on Two Forms of Postmodernism)

          •     Resource C (ACI Article, “Worldview and Thinking Christianly”)

          •     Handout D (Slides on Chapter 1 from Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture)

     •     Podcast #3: Niebuhr’s Typology (29 min)

          •     Handout A (Notes on Niebhur’s 5 Types)

          •     Handout B  (Slides on Niebuhr’s 5 Types)

     •     Podcast #4: D.A. Carson’s Critique of Niebuhr’s Work (17:05 min)

          •     Handout A (Slides on Carson’s Critique)

     •     Podcast #5: D.A. Carson’s Alternative in Christ and Culture Revisited (12:43 min)

          •     Handout A (Slides on Carson’s Alternative)

     •     Podcast #6: Big Ideas that Influence Academic Culture (13:48 min)*

          •     Resource A (ACI article, "Faith and Reason")

          •     Resource B  (Slides: Brief Summary of the History of Philosophical Ideas)

          •     Resource C  (Webpage: History of Ideas)

          •     Resource D  (Webpage: Revisiting the History of Ideas)

          •     Resource E  (Summary of the Reformation 5 “solas”)

          •     Handout F (Slides on Big Ideas That Influence Academic Culture)

•     Podcast #7: A Division Among Present Day Evangelicals (27:37 min)

          •     Handout A (Notes on Scalia Video: "'What Does “Left” and “Right” Mean'")

          •     Resource B  (Video Lecture - Justice Antonin Scalia - What Does “Left” and “Right” Mean)

          •     Resource C  (Summary of the Reformation 5 “solas”)

          •     Resource D (Machen’s “Christ and Culture” article)

          •     Handout E (The Problem of Correlation)

          •     Handout F (Slides from The Division Among Present Day Evangelicals)

     •     Podcast #8: Going Forward (20:16 min)

          •     Handout A (ACI White Paper on Peer to Peer Evangelism Among U. Faculty)

          •     Resource B [11 minute ACI produced video, “A Primer on Critical Theory (and Critical Theories)]

          •     Resource C (ACI article: Jesus and Academic Culture #2, Presenting the Gospel in Academe)

          •     Resource D (ACI article: Jesus and Academic Culture #3, Shifting From Seeking Truth to Seeking Social Justice)

          •     Resource E (ACI article: Jesus and Academic Culture #4, Critical Theory and Critical Theories)

          •     Resource F (ACI article: Jesus and Academic Culture #5, Answering Concerns and Critics)

          •     Handout G (Notes on Scalia Video: What Does “Left” and “Right” Mean)

          •     Resource H (Video Lecture - Justice Antonin Scalia - What Does “Left” and “Right” Mean)

          •     Handout I (Slides from Going Forward)