(Side note: Theodore Geisel a.k.a \u201cDr. Seuss\u201d attended Oxford. Had no idea!)<\/p>\n
While reading Paul\u2019s book, and doing some research of my own, the range of worldviews that exist and graduated from this university is astounding. Sullivan lists several bishops, theologians, and ministers that studied at Oxford. He also discusses Percy Shelley who was expelled for writing The Necessity of Atheism<\/em>.[1]<\/a> In Modern times, three of the \u201cFour Horsemen of the New Atheism<\/em>\u201d attended this school. Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett have become famous fo <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Years ago, I watched a debate between two alumni from Oxford. One of them was Richard Dawkins a scientist, one of the \u201cfour horsemen\u201d, and Alister McGrath, a renowned Christian theologian, writer, and defender of the faith who attended Merton College that Paul Sullivan describes. Good points were made by both individuals, but what was most striking was the tone, openness, and dynamic of the conversation in comparison with other debates Dawkins has had with some Christians in America. [2]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 In one debate Dawkins had with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who is from England as well, he claims he has noticed a difference between Christians in Europe and those in America. [3]<\/a> Is there a difference between Christians in Europe verses Christians in America? If so, what is it?<\/p>\n At the end of last semester, I mentioned coming across a historian named George Marsden who teaches at Duke University. He is most known for his research on American Fundamentalism. One of his articles outlines his theory on why a difference exist between American fundamentalism and English Evangelicalism. It seems that Evangelicals in Europe are less hostile and more open to ideas like evolution that Darwin proposed or higher criticism that examines the Bible critically as ancient literature and views it less literal.<\/p>\n One of Marsden\u2019s theories proposes that Europe had better channels of communication between the academy and the parishes, especially during the Enlightenment period. This allowed information too quickly travel to churches as ideas were being discovered and discussed in higher education.\u00a0 Faith communities were able to gradually process new information alongside universities. \u00a0This was not the case in America. American universities could discuss, teach, and build on information for years, sometimes a whole generation, before it reached local churches in rural pockets in the United States. This created a large gap between what local churches taught about the world and Scripture and what universities were teaching and discussing.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n When American Christians seriously entertained ideas like evolution or discoveries made in higher criticism regarding the Bible, it was shocking which created a violent reaction that helped create American fundamentalism. Some American Christians began taking the Bible more literal than ever before.<\/p>\n If I were to grab my keys, hop in the car, and travel north for about three hours toward Williamstown, Kentucky I could visit the Ark Encounter.\u00a0 This exhibit founded by Ken Ham, a modern-day Christian apologist, has a full-scale model of Noah\u2019s Ark taken from the dimensions given in the flood account in Genesis that cost millions of dollars to build. This exhibit argues why the earth must be around 6,000 years old, displays which dinosaurs occupied Noah\u2019s ark, and warns how secular science is lying to us all, especially our children, regarding the universe and how it works.<\/p>\n Ironically, twenty-five minutes from my house exists universities like Belmont, Vanderbilt, and Trevecca that offer biblical studies courses that offer different outlooks on the Scripture and its connection to creation, history, and science, which includes the famous flood story. Many of these universities and courses challenge what Ken Ham and scores of other Christians in southern America claim regarding the Bible and our universe. This is one of the reasons a private Christian college was recently built behind my house to protect college students from certain ideas and secular education that could undermine their understanding of Christian faith. Is this healthy or necessary?<\/p>\n While reading through Paul Sullivans\u2019, The Secrets of Oxford<\/em>, it reminded me of just how valuable education, diversity of thought, and openness is to growth and thinking deeper as a person of faith. It also reminded me of what could be at stake when this dynamic is at play in education. \u00a0There is a tendency for religion to keep the sacred and secular separate due to the risk of exposure. Sullivan describes principals, masters, and student halls forming to protect ministers and clerics from town influences along with all its temptations (partying).[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Ironically, colleges are now known for their parties!<\/p>\n All this to say that Oxford has a wide range of departments, philosophies, and alumni. The benefit of this range has produced some quality education, depth, excellence, and innovation from its Christian and non-Christian alumni. I know Oxford is not perfect, but it is fascinating to explore the pros and cons of this type of dynamic in education. Does this range of thought run the risk of undermining faith for some Christians? If so, should we keep our students or ourselves sheltered in a bubble? Is exposure a good thing or a bad <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Paul Sullivan, The Secret History Of Oxford (New York: The History Press, 2013), 122.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Richard Dawkins Debates Alister McGrath, YouTube (YouTube, 2012), https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bLdsRfkkTf4&t=763s<\/a>.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> 1. REThink – Debate with Rabbi Sacks and Richard Dawkins, YouTube (YouTube, 2022), https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8Ad3rVRdgbI&t=3244s<\/a>.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Marsden, George. \u201cFundamentalism as an American Phenomenon, A Comparison with English Evangelicalism.\u201d Church History 46, no. 2 (1977): 215\u201332. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/3165007<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-31-at-6.26.42-PM-1-300x133.png\")
<\/a>r their arguments and literature opposing the idea of God and religion as superstitious and even dangerous for human society.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Screen-Shot-2023-08-31-at-6.26.51-PM-300x112.png\")
<\/a>thing? Thinkers like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, N.T. Wright, and Alister McGrath, that many of us admire, emerged from an environment that challenged sacred cows, were exposed to various philosophies, and wrestled with evidence that challenged traditional worldviews, both religious and secular. Looking forward to learning more about this University on site with everyone!<\/p>\n