JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 24, 2012 — 51社区 President David S. Dockery has been named the editor of a new series of books designed for Christian students and others on college and university campuses.
In 鈥淩eclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition: A Guide for Students,鈥� published by Crossway, Dockery and other experts argue that vibrant, world-changing Christianity is not anti-intellectual but assumes a long tradition of vigorous Christian thinking and a commitment to the integration of faith and scholarship.
This integration, Dockery says, is essential to the preparation of the next generation of leaders in the church, the academy and the world.
鈥淭his a timely series that meets an important need as secular culture grows in its indifference to Christianity, and as the Christian world continues to be confused about its own beliefs, heritage and tradition,鈥� Dockery said.
Thomas Kidd, a history professor at Baylor University, called the series 鈥渁n exciting project that will freshly introduce readers to the riches of historic Christian thought and practice.鈥�
鈥淎s the modern secular academy struggles to reclaim a semblance of purpose, this series demonstrates why a deeply-rooted Christian worldview offers an intellectual coherence so badly needed in our fragmented culture,鈥� Kidd said. 鈥淎ssembling a formidable cohort of respected evangelical scholars, 鈥楻eclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition鈥� promises to supply must-read orientations to the disciplines for the next generation of Christian students.鈥�
The first book in the series, 鈥淭he Great Tradition of Christian Thinking: A Student鈥檚 Guide,鈥� co-written by Dockery and Timothy George, founding dean of Samford University鈥檚 Beeson Divinity School, will be released in April. The book introduces an approach to the Christian tradition that is not simply historical overview, but that will help students engage with contemporary challenges to their faith in various academic fields.
Four other books in the series will also be released in 2012, including 鈥淭he Liberal Arts: A Student鈥檚 Guide,鈥� by Gene C. Fant Jr., Union鈥檚 vice president for academic administration, in May, and 鈥淧olitical Thought: A Student鈥檚 Guide,鈥� by Hunter Baker, associate dean of arts and sciences at Union, in July.
鈥淟iterature: A Student鈥檚 Guide,鈥� by Louis Markos, professor of English and honors at Houston Baptist University, will be released in June, and 鈥淧hilosophy: A Student鈥檚 Guide,鈥� by David Naugle, philosophy professor at Dallas Baptist University, will be released in September.
Additional books in the series on other academic subjects are expected to be published after the first five.
鈥淓ach book in the series is written with an emphasis on the distinctive Christian approach to the subject and will include an overview of how significant Christian thinkers have addressed the subject throughout the history of the church,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淓ach volume will focus on engaging the culture and the academy by reclaiming the best of the Christian intellectual tradition.鈥�