BestSemester: Oxford

As I said in the blog below, I am headed to Oxford this summer for a month's study. My college, Wayland Baptist University, has partnered with BestSemester, a study abroad program. BestSemester is under The Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), which unites over 100 colleges around the country.

The Oxford program is aimed at teaching students about the Christian Tradition in the British Isles and continue their prior learning in specialized studies. I will study from June 12- July12 at the distinguished Wycliffe Hall. This Oxford college "was founded in 1877 by a group of evangelical churchmen in response to growing ritualism and rationalism in the Church of England."1

I plan on taking 2 specific seminar courses: Philosophy and the Christian Tradition and The Bible and the Environment. In addition, all students attend the lecture series, The Christian Tradition in the British Isles. This course surveys the history of religion and culture in Great Britain. Many lecturers are guests from one of the 40 or so Halls and Colleges which make up Oxford University. Others are Oxford Summer Programme (OSP) staff and tutors.

Philosophy and the Christian Tradition is a discipline seminar which questions the assumption that belief is voluntary. It will be interesting to compare this course to a college course I am currently taking, Christian Theology, which examines this question from the opposite position. The Oxford philosophy class will be taught by Dr. Kevin Kinghorn, who literally wrote the book (at least our textbook: The Decision of Faith) on the question of belief and faith.

The movement to take care of the environment has been rising in popularity for years. Consider the worries of Global Warming, sustainable energy, and biodiversity loss. The Bible and the Environment "will examine the biblical relationships between God, humanity, and the rest of nature." 2 This course will go along with a class I took at Wayland a year ago: Faith and Science. There, we studied everything from evolution to multiple dimensions to ethical issues like abortion, stem cell research, and the environment. At Oxford, we will focus in on the mandate of Christianity to take care of the earth (Genesis 1:28-30).

So, that is the plan for my month at Oxford. Please pray that I can get all the forms, flights, and payments worked out as I prepare to study. Also, I have four books to read for the Oxford lectures before I get there: pray for discipline. Finally, please pray that I will have a safe trip and an awesome learning experience.