The Idea of a Christian University: Essays in Theology and Higher Education

Today the academy is in a state of turmoil, torn apart by market-driven pressures, systematic underfunding by central government, overworked and highly stressed staff, increased student numbers and an ever widening division between research-led and teaching-led institutions. All this is a far cry from the religiously inspired ideals of Christian higher education which underpinned the foundation of so many centres of learning across the U. K., Europe, North America, and Australasia. In this timely and provocative collection of essays, scholars from across the world re-examine the idea of a Christian university and offer a radical alternative vision for the future of the academy. Theologians from Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant traditions engage both with the historic roots from which the idea of the Christian University emerges and with the contemporary challenges and opportunities faced by higher education today. Contributors include Professor Sam Berry, Professor David Carr, Dr. Gavin D'Costa, Dr. Gerard Loughlin, Dr. Patricia Malone, Professor Ian Markham, Professor Adrian Thatcher and Dr. Elmer Thiessen.