College Faith

Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Michael Kruger, President of Reformed Seminary-Charlotte and author of Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College. Dr. Kruger wrote this book for his daughter, who is now a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, sharing what he wished he understood as a young believer and a student there thirty years ago, as his faith was challenged by his religion professor. Now an accomplished scholar, he is able to offer much wisdom to his daughter Emma, and so many like her, who face challenges to their faith each day on campus.  In this podcast we discuss: Why he wrote this book to his daughter, now studying at a public university How his book will also help students at Christian colleges and universities, and their parents The strong bias against the Christian faith in Religion Departments How studying at a secular university can help students grow in their faith  How students can identify and engage the biases of their professors and their own  How to disagree on “hot-button” topics in a respectful and loving way  How our theological paradigms incline us to respond to objections to the Christian faith differently (such as our response to the Problem of Evil) The importance of students understanding biblical truth to survive Religion 101  How our churches can help students prepare to thrive during college Two “flavors” of Evangelical Christianity that don’t prepare students well for college Different types of doubt Christians experience, and how to “doubt well”   What to do if a student feels “Christianity just isn’t working for me.” The connection between head and heart--between what we believe and what we love The only way to sustain a robust Christian faith for the long-haul   Why one unanswered objection shouldn’t derail your faith Why all believers will benefit from this book (not just college students) Resources mentioned during our conversation: Michael J. Kruger, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College  Michael Kruger’s website James Anderson, What’s Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions  James Anderson, Why Should I Believe Christianity?  C.S. Lewis’ Free Will defense to the Problem of Evil: Mere Christianity, pp. 47-48, see also Art Lindsley, “The Problem of Evil: C.S. Lewis Speaks to Life’s Most Difficult Questions” Stan Wallace, "If God Exists, Why is There Pain and Suffering?" Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

In this episode I talk with Dr. Randy Newman about the importance of asking good questions. Whether it be in class, in relationships, or in conversations about our faith, the ability to ask the right questions is often the key to great conversations, learning, and growth.  Randy is one of the best “question-askers” I know. He has shared some of his wisdom on this topic as it relates to sharing the good news of the gospel with others in his popular book Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts The Way Jesus Did. We begin with the principles he shares in this book and broaden the conversation to the many other types of conversations we often have. Randy and I have been friends for over 30 years. Though we no longer serve together in the same ministry, we remain close friends. I am always a better person after our conversations, due largely to Randy’s ability to ask me good questions! Randy currently serves the Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute.   In this podcast we discuss: What happens when we ask others questionsHow Randy’s Jewish background helped him learn to ask good questionsHow his failures in sharing the gospel lead him to begin asking questionsThe starting assumption that causes us to not ask questions in evangelism  Examples of how his questions led to good conversations with skeptics of the Christian faithTips to help us all get better at asking good questionsThe importance of how we ask questions, in addition to the questions we askThe value of “asking permission” to have a conversation about spiritual mattersHow we can respond well when a non-believer asks us questions about our faithHow Jesus modeled for us how to ask good questions to get to the real issuesWhen we should not answer questions we are asked by non-believersHow students can excel academically by asking their professors good questionsWhy and how to respond with questions when a professor is openly hostile to your faithHow a student’s respect and questions helped an atheistic professor come to faith in ChristAccomplishing more by accomplishing less in conversationsHow asking good questions helps us develop deeper friendships Why asking questions serves others and is a tangible way to show love The importance of asking good questions when on a date, and what to listen for in his or her answersSome questions to ask when searching for a good church, and the right people to ask Questions to ask when choosing a major, and the right people to askHow to have great summers by asking the right questionsErrors to avoid when asking others questionsThe important role of asking God hard questions, and asking others our hard questions about GodExamples in media of those who ask good questions, and those who don’t Randy’s newest book, coming out in September!  Resources mentioned during our conversation: Books by Randy: Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did  Corner Conversations: Engaging Dialogues About God and Life Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You Well Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism Mere Evangelism: 10 Insights from C.S. Lewis to Help You Share Your Faith Lyle DorsettOrthodoxy by G.K. ChestertonMere Christianity by C.S. LewisThe “On Being” podcast by Christian Tippit

My guest on this episode is Dr. Phil Bishop, emeritus professor of Kinesiology at the University of Alabama, where he taught for 34 years. In 2006 he was appointed the first professorship at Alabama named after Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. (For more see his “Meet The Prof” page, and his personal page.) As a Christian professor, Phil most enjoys the opportunity he has to love and care for his students. One of the ways he shows this love is speaking often on how to succeed at college, and at life! His talk, “How To Get Better Grades and Have More Fun,” is full of extremely practical and useful tips, gleaned from over four decades as a student and a professor.  Not only does Phil provide helpful tips to get better grades, he also weaves in lessons important to succeeding in life and sustaining a vibrant relationship with Christ.  In our conversation, based on his “Better Grades” seminar, we discuss: Why he cares so much about students getting better grades   How to navigate the distractions of college life  Skills to maximize learning while in class  Skills to maximize learning outside of class How best to retain information you are reading The one strategy that will increase your GPA a full point or more (and reduce stress) How best to take advantage of your professor’s office hours  The importance of doing extra credit work Proven strategies to prepare well for final exams The importance of having a specific place to study  Finding and leveraging your learning style  One poor strategy that won’t help you succeed in college The importance of exercise for stress relief  The importance of prioritizing our walk with Christ during the college years How to determine your major, and when to start    The value of internships  How and why to take classes outside your major that you are interested in Strategies to identify and offset your academic weaknesses  Using summer to prepare well for the next academic year The pros and cons of websites that rate professors  Resources mentioned during our conversation: Google Scholar

Dr. Ken Elzinga is the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics at University of Virginia. As a professor at UVA for over 50 years now, he has nurtured several generations of students. Christian and non-Christian students alike have benefitted from his gentle, Christlike spirit, his winsome manner, and his extraordinary wisdom. He is the type of professor we all hope and pray our children will have--someone who cares deeply about both their minds and hearts. Dr. Elzinga has been able to have such an influence on so many students due to his commitment to excellence in his calling as a professor, doing his work as unto the Lord. His honors are too many to mention, but include being the first recipient of the Cavaliers’ Distinguished Professorship at UVA, receiving the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Professor Award, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award, and the Thomas Jefferson Award, which is the highest honor UVA awards to a professor. As an outstanding scholar and teacher, his introductory economics course is the largest class on campus, with over one thousand students taking the class each year. His upper-level Antitrust Policy seminar continually has a waiting list of two years. Beyond the university, Dr. Elzinga is often asked for his expert opinion on issues of antitrust economics, including testifying before the Supreme Court as an economic expert in three cases.  In addition to publishing over one hundred academic articles, he has also co-authored four mystery novels (under the pen name Marshall Jevons). These intriguing novels revolve around an economist who solves crimes by using concepts of economics. They are now available in seven languages, and are often used by others teaching economics to illustrate economic theory.  In this podcast Dr. Elzinga shares his insights, wisdom, warnings, and encouragements to help Christian students flourish during their university years. In this podcast we discuss:  How Ken’s faith in Christ influences how he teaches How he ministers to students outside the classroom How students can integrate their faith into all of life The importance of not being ashamed of being a Christian on campus Why it is so important to immediately find Christian fellowship, and how to do so   How students can identify Christian professors  Why students should ask Christian professors to be mentors How Christian Study Centers can help Christian students Spiritual disciplines Christian students should practice in order to thrive Academic disciplines Christian students should practice in order to thrive Ways Christian students can be used by God in their professor’s lives Wisdom for life from his field of Economics The unspoken assumption that often shakes the faith of Christian students What students must do to counter this unspoken assumption  Counsel for Christian students considering an academic career Resources mentioned during our conversation: Dr. Elzinga’s website   Dr. Elzinga’s UVA page Campus Ministries’ websites  Consortium of Christian Study Centers InterVarsity Press books on college life Cru resources on college life

During his many years in ministry to students Steve noticed some thrived spiritually, while others did not. He began studying what the common factors were that caused students to thrive, eventually earning a PhD in the philosophy of learning at Penn State University.  His research led to his first book, The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief & Behavior During the University Years, where he discusses the three critical success factors he identified. Now almost three decades later, The Fabric of Faithfulness continues to be widely read and these three principles continue to help countless students flourish as Christians during their university years, and beyond (and for this reason the subtitle was changed in the second edition, which we discuss).  In our conversation Steve describes how college students (and the rest of us) can apply these principles, and the profound difference this will make in the lives of all who do so.  In this podcast we discuss: How Steve got interested in this topic What he discovered from his research The difference between professing belief and allowing it to shape our lives Why it is necessary to take our faith seriously enough to let it shape our lives  Why it is hard in all ages and cultures to take faith in Christ seriously  Unique ways our current culture makes it hard to take faith in Christ seriously  Ways universities generally teach views of life, history, and reality that make it hard to take faith in Christ seriously  Similar and different challenges students will face at secular and Christian universities The importance of discerning the perspective on life and the world being taught at any given university The three things students must do to take their faith seriously and allow it to shape their lives (during college and beyond): develop a robust Christian worldview find a mentor  find Christian community The importance of knowing how to discern truth in a pluralizing, secularizing world The need, reasons, and goals of a mentoring relationship, and how to find a mentor   Why it is critically important to find a community of other believers on campus and after graduation   How to find a healthy Christian community on campus Unhealthy features of some campus ministries on some campuses Reducing faith to being purely private, disconnected from university conversations A wrong theology of vocation promoted  How these principles apply to growing in faith after college as well The importance of living well in the “here and now,” imperfect as it is    Resources mentioned during our conversation: The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior by Steven Garber Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Steven Garber The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of of Love and Learning, Worship and Work by Steven Garber

Choosing a college or university is one of the most important decisions we make in life. It is also one of the most challenging decisions we will ever face. With so many options available and issues to consider, the process can seem overwhelming. In this podcast, I discuss many of the issues to consider with Dr. David Wunder, Dean of Faculty Development and Research Initiatives at Calvin University. Dr. Wunder became serious about his faith as a sophomore in high school and headed off to college eager to grow both intellectually and spiritually. He chose to attend a small public university for his Bachelor of Science degree (Missouri University of Science and Technology). From there he attended large public universities for his Master of Science degree (University of Iowa) and his Ph.D. (University of Minnesota). In all three universities, he found ways to flourish in his faith and excel academically. He has now been on the faculty at Calvin University, a Christian university since 2004 (for more see his Calvin University Faculty Profile.). Here in this Christian college context, he has also seen many students flourish.  In our conversation, Dr. Wunder shares his insights concerning the pros and cons of both secular and Christian college education, and how to thrive in both contexts. He also provides a wealth of information about what to consider when choosing a college, sure to be helpful to all prospective college students and their parents as they wrestle with this momentous decision. In this podcast we discuss:  The benefits of attending a Christian college or university The challenges of attending a Christian college or university How to evaluate a college or university during a campus visit How to thrive as a Christian at a secular university How to find a healthy Christian fellowship on campus The challenges of attending a secular college or university Other ways Christian students can thrive in a secular context How to discern which college or university is best for you/your son or daughter   Further thoughts on how to maximize a campus visit How to find information about graduation and placement percentages How to avoid unnecessary stress in the selection process The two ways to think about how to choose a college  Resources mentioned during our conversation: Universities with Christian Study Centers Council for Christian Colleges and Universities College Confidential

Christian students are called, as are all Christians, to be “in the world but not of it." Yet doing so is much easier said than done, and sometimes much harder on university campuses. To help students in this, John Stonestreet and I discuss his and Brett Kunkle’s recent book, A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. John holds a master of arts in Christian thought from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) where he graduated with honors. He currently serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. John is a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. He is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues. Prior to his current role, John worked in various capacities with Summit Ministries including Executive Director, overseeing the various aspects of the ministry to accomplish its mission of cultivating rising generations to resolutely champion a Biblical worldview. Prior to working with Summit and The Colson Center, John was on the teaching faculty of Bryan College where he helped to develop a Christian worldview sequence for the core curriculum, as well as several non-traditional educational opportunities. He also directed the Bryan College Worldview Team, an innovative educational initiative designed to teach students to analyze worldviews using the lens of popular media and culture. In addition to A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, John has also authored Restoring All Things: God's Audacious Plan to Change the World through Ordinary People (with Warren Cole Smith), Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God's Design for Marriage (with Sean McDowell), and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview (with W. Gary Phillips and William E. Brown). John and his wife Sarah, have three daughters and live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In this podcast we discuss:  How to define “culture” and why we must understand culture How Christians should engage in and respond to culture How Christian students can celebrate the good on campus Why “Christian” is a great noun, but a horrible adjective The fallacy of chasing cultural relevance How higher education has become dehumanizing How students can flourish in this dehumanizing environment The two questions all students must learn to ask Practical ways students can discover their calling The unseen influence of cultural undercurrents How to overcome cultural influences and become virtuous people Why so many millennials are drawn to Socialism Resources mentioned during our conversation: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle A Student’s Guide to Culture, by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle The Aims of Education, by T.S. Eliot The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior, by Steven Garber  “Men Without Chests” in The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis What it Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics, by O. Carter Sneed You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, by James K. A. Smith Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, by James K. A. Smith Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works, by James. K. A. Smith   The Colson Fellows Program Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents, by Rod Dreher Breakpoint - A Program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

We are undergoing a virtual learning revolution, as the COVID pandemic and the prevalence of technology intersect, leading universities to move most or all of their classes online. This presents new challenges, as well as new opportunities, for students. My guest helps us understand the implications of this new reality, and how students can flourish in this digital learning environment.  Pete Marra has nearly twenty years of experience helping students learn well in the online context in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. He has been involved in building online learning platforms and started his own technology company focused on digital learning. He is especially interested in how people learn, and how they learn differently, in the online environment. In this podcast we discuss:  Various learning styles that must be understood to maximize online learning New opportunities for those with various learning styles How to leverage these new opportunities to your advantage How students can excel academically in online classes   Ways students can compensate if the online learning environment is challenging for them The challenges of distractions, procrastination, and fatigue in distance learning Two wrong and harmful assumptions students make as they take online classes The expectations professors have of students in online classes How students can best interact with their professors in the digital environment How students can best collaborate with other students in their online classes Ways to develop habits, systems, or processes to succeed in online classes Dealing with the isolation and depression online learning may cause Challenges and opportunities unique to Christian students learning online The resources mentioned during our conversation: Hope Always: How to be a Force for Life in a Culture of Suicide by Matthew Sleeth, MD 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth, MD Technology: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman Pete Marra on Linked In  Search online for “learning styles” to access free resources and tests Harvard Education Publishing Group MIT’s online courses TED Talks on learning styles: Learning styles and the importance of critical self-reflection, Tesia Marshik Learning via your style, D.J. Cunningham Misconceptions of learning styles, Anita Acai ...and many more Search online for “digital pedagogy” for additional resources

The better we understand higher education, the better we can navigate the university years well and flourish in both heart and mind. My guest today is a historian who understands the forces that caused and continue to shape higher education. He also has a wide range of experience working in higher education, giving him unusual insights into how universities work today, and how students can avoid the pitfalls as well as capitalize on the opportunities universities offer. Liam J. Atchison, Ph.D. has a Th.M. in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in History from Kansas State University. For many years he was a university and seminary professor and dean.  He was also the founding editor of the literary journal Mars Hill Review, co-editor of Civil Religion and American Christianity (Newport: Stone Tower Press, 2020), and is the author of two other books and numerous articles. His research has been in the history of ideas with a particular interest in politics, education, and how people understand and use written texts. He was also the founder and co-director of Emmanuel House, a seminary in Manhattan, Kansas. Liam now serves as the Senior Vice-President of Global Scholars. He is married and has two children and three grandchildren. In this podcast we discuss:  How universities first began How universities changed in the 19th century into what they are today How the goal of higher education shifted from developing character to developing skills How these factors shaped U.S. higher education Why state universities were established The pros and cons of higher education's shift in emphasis to "practical" fields Why we shouldn't be too impressed by a university's ranking The reasons professors are often not good teachers (especially at larger universities) Why smaller schools should be considered for undergraduate degrees The value of the ACT/SAT in today's higher education, and why they are often not the best indicators of academic ability or success When, why, and how universities shifted how they understand their role related to students and parents Why higher education in the 20th century moved away from more traditional views and values The idea of a university, and how best to prepare so as to receive the greatest benefits from a university education The pros and cons of a "Great Books" curriculum at universities The difference between a college and a university, and why universities contain some colleges The hierarchy of a university, and where to go for help Resources mentioned during our conversation: Norman Geiser and Ronald Brooks, Come Let Us Reason Together: An Introduction to Logical Thinking  Thinking Christianly blog series on informal fallacies, beginning here Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic (includes sections of informal and formal logic)

Christian students at public universities face unique challenges, as well as unique opportunities. Whether a student thrives in this environment depends on many factors, including how they engage this "marketplace of ideas." Knowing how best to respond when one's worldview is challenged is an important skill to develop. Dr. Craft is most interested in is preparing students to engage in this "marketplace of ideas"--both inside and outside the classroom--on issues such as social justice, diversity and inclusion training, and LGBTQ+ questions. Dr. Christy Moran Craft is a professor and interim department chair in the College of Education at Kansas State University. For almost twenty years, she has studied issues related to religion and spirituality in higher education, paying particular attention to Christianity in public colleges and universities. She also has expertise with regard to legal issues related to religious expression in public higher education. In addition to teaching and to conducting research, Dr. Craft has served on various committees on campus including serving as Chair of the President’s Committee on Religious, Spiritual, and Nonreligious Diversity.  She fell in love with higher education as a result of her experiences as a student leader in a campus organization and as a resident assistant at Bradley University. Her teaching brings practice-based knowledge of residence life, judicial affairs, student organizations, leadership development, Greek life, and health awareness programming into the classroom. In this podcast we discuss... The legality of students discussing Christian conviction in public universities, supported by Supreme Court decisions [:54] How students can prepare to have a voice in the marketplace of ideas [3:22] The value of understanding other perspectives, rather than being fearful [6:25] Strategies to help Christian students engage in the marketplace of ideas [9:30] The relationship between being a good student and having an influence for Christ [11:10] When it is and is not OK to bring Christian convictions into classroom discussions [13:24] What the “separation of Church and State” means for Christian students sharing their perspectives [14:16] Why Christians should not be quick to assume they are being persecuted at a secular university [18:16] Challenges Christian students will face outside the classroom from administrative staff [23:18] How best to respond to religious diversity [24:19]  Responding to charges of "Christian privilege" [28:00] Fruitfully engaging in conversations  about race, gender, and sexual orientation [31:38] How non-Christian professors tend to respond to Christian students [36:22] How best to deal with student affairs staff who are antagonistic [40:24] How to find a good campus ministry [43:24] How to find Christian professors [45:40] How to find a good church [47:00] Dealing with antagonistic professors [48:09] Where to go to get help when facing challenging situations [48:58] How to balance involvement in a Christian group and ministry with studies [52:28] Thoughts about participation in "interfaith" conversations and events [52:50] Applying Scripture to one's life as a student [58:07] Resources Mentioned:   Christian campus ministries -  https://collegefaith.net/resources/ J.P. Moreland's website - http://www.jpmoreland.com/ Ravi Zacharias resources - https://www.rzim.org/ Tim Keller's website - https://timothykeller.com/