Covenant versus Consumer Education | Ari Berman | January 2023
Feb 2, 2023
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The podcast explores the contrast between consumerism and covenant-based living, emphasizing the importance of communal relationships and shared responsibilities. It discusses the challenges of maintaining prayer practices while traveling and the significance of commitment in covenantal relationships. The episode also delves into transitioning from consumer education to a covenantal paradigm, highlighting the transformative power of faith-based values and lifelong learning.
Education in a covenantal framework emphasizes faith, empathy, and commitment over consumer values.
Covenantal relationships prioritize depth, mystery, and transformation, contrasting with transactional consumer interactions.
Deep dives
Education in a Covenantal Framework
The podcast episode explores the concept of education within a covenantal framework, emphasizing the importance of faith, empathy, commitment, loyalty, curiosity, and resilience over individualistic consumer values. Education in this context focuses on discovering personal identity, contributing to society, and seeking truth beyond utility. The message is to guide students to understand their unique qualities, accept commitment before knowledge, and align their studies with a greater story of service.
The Covenantal Perspective on Relationships
The episode contrasts consumer and covenantal perspectives on relationships by highlighting the depth of commitment and mystery in covenantal bonds. Unlike a consumer approach that seeks known metrics and specifications, the covenantal model is driven by faith, empathy, loyalty, curiosity, and transformation. It underscores the importance of valuing uniqueness and embracing the unknown in building meaningful relationships over transactional interactions.
Educational Commitment and Purpose
Addressing the questions of who are students, how do we study, and why do we study, the episode delves into the essence of a values-driven education based on a covenantal worldview. Students are viewed as unique individuals born in God's image, while academic pursuits prioritize seeking truth and leading lives of service. The overarching goal is to instill a commitment to personal growth and contribution within a broader narrative guided by faith and values.
Fulfilling an Educational Mission
The episode concludes by underscoring the enduring educational mission rooted in a covenantal perspective that transcends mere utility. Education at Yeshiv University is portrayed as part of a higher calling, aiming to bring honor to God by nurturing the holiness within individuals. It emphasizes a legacy of learning, decency, and dignity passed down through generations, committed to a covenant that values meaning, purpose, and service to society.
In a consumer society, covenantal education in faith-based institutions helps us approach relationships and life in a more meaningful way. Access the talk here.
Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, delivered this forum address on January 31, 2023.