Liberal Arts for the Christian Life

by Jeffry C. Davis (editor), Philip Graham Ryken (editor)

For over forty years, Leland Ryken has championed and modeled a Christian liberal arts education. His scholarship and commitment to integrating faith with learning in the classroom have influenced thousands of students who have sat under his winsome teaching. Published in honor of Professor Ryken and presented on the occasion of his retirement from Wheaton College, this compilation carries on his legacy of applying a Christian liberal arts education to all areas of life.

Five sections explore the background of a Christian liberal arts education, its theological basis, habits and virtues, differing approaches, and ultimate aims. Contributors including Philip Ryken, Jeffry Davis, Duane Litfin, John Walford, Alan Jacobs, and Jim Wilhoit analyze liberal arts as they relate to the disciplines, the Christian faith, and the world. Also included are a transcript of a well-known 1984 chapel talk delivered by Leland Ryken on the student’s calling and practical chapters on how to read, write, and speak well.

Comprehensive in scope, this substantial volume will be a helpful guide to anyone involved in higher education, as well as to students, pastors, and leaders looking for resources on the importance of faith in learning.

Genres: Education, Christian, Nonfiction, Cultural

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2012

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know a book is good when I flag pages and underline passages. However, I know a book is excellent when I flag and dog-ear pages, use several types of pens and pencils to underline passages, and come back to the book again and again. This is an excellent book. As someone with an English degree from a liberal arts university, I found this book to be validating and encouraging in a world where my degree is constantly under attack for not being “practical” or “worthwhile” (cost of education and other issues aside, of course, I’ll save that for a different discussion). Today, I hear education spoken in terms of what we can do with it instead of what can it do to us. This book makes the case for developing the whole person intellectually, instilling life-long learning, valuing critical thinking skills, and (most importantly) reflecting Christ.

A Christian liberal arts education isn’t just teaching the Bible (although important); it is about using our minds and developing intellectual capacities beyond our one subject area. Contrary to popular belief, Christianity can be an intellectual pursuit full of joy in learning. It’s about rightly questioning our beliefs and others in order to grow deeper in understanding and faith. Christian liberal arts education seeks to take away the “blind faith” stigma so often negatively associated with Christianity, and replace it with understanding. It often “calls us, among other things, to exchange self-deception for unflinching honesty about our faults, close-mindedness for a willingness to hear thoughtful objections to our preferred ways of thinking, and biased or prejudicial reading for charitable and interpretively sensitive reading of authors with whom we disagree.” Christian education gives us the right equipment to go on this life-long quest to knowing the world around us, ourselves and Christ better.

[Bruno Romano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a basic, graduation level textbook on Christian Liberal Arts. At some points, it's even too basic. The only public I can imagine is a freshman student on an American Liberal Arts College (do they still exist?), but even then, the book is too slow and burdensome. Any reader that is already acquainted with the trivium will not lose anything if he misses it. If you've never read anything though, it can be a good pick, depending on what you demand from a book.

To interested readers, I would point Adler's How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading and Sertillanges The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods. These are quick but deep books that will a better, deeper and complex introduction to the topic.

PS: Ryken's suggestion in the last essay that because in his Revelation John saw angels singing in heaven (they had to be creative, hum? and had understand music language!) and had to read from some scrolls (where this scrolls well written? had they good logic?), therefore, the liberal arts learning today are important and will be required in the afterlife, is just completely bizarre.

[Grace Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, just not a great one! I have no background in the philosophy of liberal arts education so I appreciated it. However, it’s rather basic, engaging shallowly into this topic instead of diving deep. Some of the essays were beautiful, others were mid, and others weren’t memorable at all. Some of the writing on embodiment and learning was cool, as well as essays on how learning habituates virtue! However, when it went into separate disciplines, it lost steam and didn’t add a lot to the literature. Overall, a decent book!

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent compilation of essays by Wheaton College professors on the value of a Christian liberal arts education for shaping the lives of Christian students.
Every Christian school leader needs to read this book and utilize the approach outlined in it for their purposes. We are in the business of shaping young lives for an eternal future, not giving them simply a good academic platform and a fun time at school.
Well done to Phil Ryken and his team!

[Meniah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blessing for both the student and teacher in me! I found a lot of inspiration for me as I journey in the academe. A must read for all!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy reading different essays from this book at the beginning and end of the school year.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fabulous essays; some not so fabulous.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource and must read for all young adults considering their college education as well as for parents who are guiding their children in these decisions.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the essays were better than others. It was kind of whatever.

[Rose]

Some essays more helpful than others. I’ll likely use one for my students this fall. Maybe have them read the essay that matches their discipline …

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to liberal arts education.

[Estella Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! it is a beautiful way to approach the liberal arts through a Christian worldview

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid. Many pithy quotes scattered throughout this collection of essays on Christian liberal education.

[Reid Mccormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Your college years are uniquely wonderful. Few other experiences in life will have the same once-only quality of your college education or provide you the same luxury of opportunity to expand your intellectual and spiritual awareness."

Wheaton College is one of the most prominent Christian colleges in the United States. Being a top ranked liberal arts college, Wheaton commands top notch faculty completely devoted to the liberal arts. Liberal Arts for the Christian Life is a compilation of short essays dedicated to great importance and significance of Christian higher education written by the educators of Wheaton College.

The book is split into 5 sections: Terminology and Background, Theological Convictions, Habits and Virtues, Divisional Areas of Study, and The End of Christian Liberal Arts. Each chapter does a great job weaving together Scripture with the arts and sciences. For the student interested in college or the professionals looking into education, this book offers some amazing snippets.

[JSem · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters were persuasive and made me thankful for my liberal arts degree. many of the later chapters, when the book went discipline-by-discipline were tedious--each professor promoting his own department.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of essays by Wheaton professors. Good review of Christian contribution to the liberal arts.