Twelve Great Books that Changed the University: And Why Christians Should Care
Twelve scholars take us on a journey through twelve books that have defined the methodologies and orthodoxies of key disciplines within the university curriculum. These books have not only been formative for their respective disciplines, but have reshaped the university and continue to reframe our understanding of education. Each chapter places a Great Book in its historical context, summarizes the key ideas, and assesses the influence of the text on its discipline and society as a whole. In addition, each contributor offers an evaluation from a Christian perspective, explaining both the benefits of the book and the challenges it presents to a Christian worldview and philosophy of education.
"Wilkens and Thorsen are to be commended for mobilizing their
colleagues at Azusa Pacific University to put together a marvelous
introduction to a few great books of the Western canon, especially
for undergraduate students. Faculty who teach the liberal arts in
Christian colleges and universities will find this a fair,
critical, and helpful point of entry for those approaching these
important original sources for the first time."
--Amos Yong, Regent University, School of Divinity, Virginia Beach,
VA
"Their clarity and passion for what it means to be a Christian in
the world of ideas, sciences, literatures, economics, and politics
is inspiring."
--Kurt Anders Richardson, McMaster University, Ontario,
Canada
"Twelve Books not only makes a strong case for the enduring
importance of engagement with the classic texts it addresses, but
even more importantly, provides an effective resource for those
seeking to recover the vital unifying role of the liberal arts for
Christian higher education. In this sense, it makes a great
companion to Mark Noll's Jesus Christ and the Life of the
Mind and Alasdair MacIntyre's God, Philosophy,
Universities."
--Mark H. Mann, Wesleyan Center, Point Loma Nazarene University,
San Diego, CA
"Wilkens and Thorsen are to be commended for mobilizing their
colleagues at Azusa Pacific University to put together a marvelous
introduction to a few great books of the Western canon, especially
for undergraduate students. Faculty who teach the liberal arts in
Christian colleges and universities will find this a fair,
critical, and helpful point of entry for those approaching these
important original sources for the first time."
--Amos Yong, Regent University, School of Divinity, Virginia Beach,
VA
"Their clarity and passion for what it means to be a Christian in
the world of ideas, sciences, literatures, economics, and politics
is inspiring."
--Kurt Anders Richardson, McMaster University, Ontario,
Canada
"Twelve Books not only makes a strong case for the enduring
importance of engagement with the classic texts it addresses, but
even more importantly, provides an effective resource for those
seeking to recover the vital unifying role of the liberal arts for
Christian higher education. In this sense, it makes a great
companion to Mark Noll's Jesus Christ and the Life of the
Mind and Alasdair MacIntyre's God, Philosophy,
Universities."
--Mark H. Mann, Wesleyan Center, Point Loma Nazarene University,
San Diego, CA
Product Details
- Title : Twelve Great Books that Changed the University: And Why Christians Should Care
- Authors:
- Wilkens, Steve
- Thorsen, Don
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Publication Date: 2014
- ISBN: 9781630871857
Steve Wilkens, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy and Ethics and
Faith Integration Fellow for Faculty Development at Azusa Pacific
University. He has authored and edited several books, including
Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories that Shape Our
Lives and Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics.
Don Thorsen, PhD, is Professor of Theology and Chair of Graduate
Theology and Ethics at Azusa Pacific University. He is author of
more than ten books, including The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, An
Exploration of Christian Theology, Everything You Know about
Evangelicals Is Wrong, and Calvin vs. Wesley: Bringing
Belief in Line with Practice.