Skip to main content
John Henry Newman sets out to defend the idea of Liberal (when I say "liberal" it is in the sense of a Liberal Arts degree)University for the training of young men. (His book is aimed at men and for the purpose of men... I dont know if the education of women at that time was still frowned upon). Within a series of nine discourses (which he initially delivered at the inaugural year of the University in Ireland)he sets out to defend his picture of what a University education should look like. Newman's arguments are logical and well defended with the arguments building, like a tower is built, upon one another. Each discourse takes up a specific thesis and is defended in the following pages.

He first demonstrates that Truth is One, that is composed of one overarching, interrelated matrix. There are many systems of thought that are a play, but nonetheless, all Truth is delicately intertwined so that if you neglect one aspect of the Truth in essence you are unraveling the binds that tie that Truth together. You can study science or economics or literature or theology or any branch of knowledge whatsoever and that which is true in that branch is related in degrees to all branches of knowledge.

Theology, then, is necessary to the University since the University is supposed to teach "universal" knowledge, that is, all possible fields of knowledge. He argues that for a University to neglect any form of knowledge is to be oppressive and arrogant in its view of what knowledge consists. Has not religion and the ideas of 'god(s)' permeated the world since the beginning of time? Because truth is one and theology is a branch of knowledge (Newman argues the highest)then the University must teach Theology in order to fulfill its purpose of teaching Universal knowledge.

Should knowledge be gained for knowledge sake (philosophy) or should knowledge be gained for its use (utility)? Newman argues that knowledge is an end in itself not simply an means to an end as most would argue. He likes the health of the mind to the health of the body. No human treats his body well through exercise and right diet in order that they may use the body for another task (though a healthy body allows for use), rather the health of the body is the end itself, so also the health of the mind. We gain knowledge not simply to be able to make ourselves richer or more powerful (though those things can happen when the mind is healthy) we gain knowledge to deepen our understanding of Truth and its interrelatedness to all of life. He calls this "enlightenment."

Popular posts from this blog

8/15/2016

  Kevin,                                                               At this time I believe it is necessary that I inform you of what is going on internally. As a high school boys soccer coach I learned that you want team captains who are fully dedicated to the team’s success. If they aren’t, the entire team struggles to reach its goals.  While I am part of the FBBC team, I believe I am lacking in this desired leadership quality myself.  After seven full months in my current position, I do not believe my passions are managing money for the church. As a result I do not have internal peace about the longevity of my current position. I believe there are better people for this role. I believe FBBC would be a stronger organization if a person more suited for this role were here. I c...

Pastor Or Theologian?

I received a facebook message from a long-lost college friend and roommate the other day. In his cordial greeting he noted, and correctly, that I had just graduated with a Masters in Theology. I really appreciated the recognition and congratulations, but what bothered me was his next question. He asked if I was "going to be a Pastor or a Theologian?" I laughed, not because I thought the answer to the question was obvious, but because of the fact that he dichotomized the two disciplines as mutually exclusive. My first reaction was to respond with a smart alec remark about his ignorance and misconstrued views of Christianity and its relationship to education, but then I had to stop and remember that he graduated from the same undergraduate institution which I graduated from, and probably, like me, attended a 'fundy' church growing up. Reminding myself of this context cooled me off a bit and I kindly responded that I would hope someday to do both. Nonetheless, what his ...