US IVCF Grad-Faculty Conference + Bibliography
This past weekend, we hosted an online video symposium linking faculty and researchers (grad students) at eight university sites in the Midwest of the United States. Terry Halliday presented from Chicago, covering similar material to what has been posted on the list serve. But it is the first time many of our US participants had engaged with this material, which they found quite helpful, and for many gave a new perspective on our participation in university conversations.
As “the book guy” I was asked if I could provide a reading list of resources along the lines of the material Terry presented. I provided five suggestions in each of three categories–only a beginning to be sure but they are pasted below. The categories are: Dialogue, The University, and Thinking Christianly. They are also on my blog if you wish to access or forward that URL. It is: http://bobonbooks.com/2016/02/01/dialogue-within-the-university-a-reading-list/
The list reflects resources readily available in, and in some cases addressing the context in North America where our participants live. It was suggested that it would be helpful if we could develop this into a global bibliography and so I would welcome the contributions of others who know of resources, particularly those published outside North America in the three categories of this reading list.
Here is the list, which includes links to US publishers and links in the instances where I’ve reviewed the book:
Dialogue:
Crouch, Andy. Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008. Explores how cultures are made and shaped and explores ways Christians can engage with and create culture with pursuing “culture wars”.
Felton, Peter, H-Dirsen L. Bauman, Aaron Kheriaty, and Edward Taylor. Transformative Conversations: A Guide to Mentoring Communities Among Colleagues in Higher Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2013. Discusses how faculty can develop “formational mentoring communities” exploring questions of meaning, calling and values. Great conversational model. Reviewed here.
Hunter, James Davison. To Change the World. New York, Oxford University Press, 2010. Hunter challenges the rhetoric of “culture change”, shows the importance of cultural elites, and explores the role of “faithful presence”. Reviewed here.
Muehlhoff, Tim. I Beg to Differ. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2014. Muehlhoff explores communication strategies for difficult conversations with those with whom we differ. Reviewed here.
Volf, Miroslav. A Public Faith. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2011. He argues that Christians can choose a third way of seeking the public good while remaining faithful to the core values of their faith. Reviewed here.
University:
Delbanco, Andrew. College: What it Was, Is, and Should Be. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012. He explores the history, current state, and his own future hopes for the university, with nods to the contribution of Christians to discussing important questions in the university. Reviewed here.
Kronman, Anthony. Education’s End. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. A thought-provoking book by one who is dismissive of religious answers but wonders why colleges have given up on the big questions. Reviewed here.
Marsden, George M. The Soul of the American University: From Protestant Establishment to Established Nonbelief. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Explores the history of Christian engagement in the American university and the forces behind the establishment of secularism as the university’s stance.
Newman, John Henry Cardinal. The Idea of a University. South Bend, University of Notre Dame Press, 1982. John Henry Newman’s classic work on the liberal Christian university–one of the first to articulate a vision of faith and scholarship together. Not easy going but a foundational book. Reviewed here.
Wolterstorff, Nicholas, Educating for Shalom. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. A collection of essays that chronicles Wolterstorff’s developing thinking about the integration of faith, learning and practice in the higher education world. Reviewed here.
I find keeping up with articles published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and University World News (which gives me global coverage of university issues) helpful to staying aware of possible university conversations. I published a review post of higher education books here in June of 2014.
Thinking Christianly:
Milne, Bruce, Know the Truth. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009. An outline of basic systematic theology with scriptures and discussion questions to make one think about what one believes. A predecessor to this book was critical in my early years of ministry in helping me think through the faith deeply for myself.
Neuhaus, Richard John. The Naked Public Square. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. A foundational book reflecting a Christian perspective for how we engaged the public arena. A landmark book by the longtime editor of First Things.
Noll, Mark A. Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011. Noll demonstrates the importance of Christology to thinking Christianly about various academic disciplines. A fine example of a historian thinking theologically about doing history. Reviewed here.
Walsh, Brian, and J. Richard Middleton. The Transforming Vision. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1984. The authors show how Christian worldview can be basic to thinking Christianly about various academic disciplines. The book includes a “bibliography you can’t live without.”
Wolters, Al. Creation Regained. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005. Traces the themes of creation, fall, and redemption, and how these may inform our efforts to think Christianly about anything else.
Warmest regards!
Bob Trube
InterVarsity GFM Director, Ohio Valley
8315 Yuma Drive
Powell, OH 43065-9579
614.352.5676 (c)
RTrube54@sbcglobal.net
Bob Trube on Facebook
InterVarsity GFM Director, Ohio Valley
8315 Yuma Drive
Powell, OH 43065-9579
614.352.5676 (c)
RTrube54@sbcglobal.net
Bob Trube on Facebook
Blog (Bob on Books): http://bobonbooks.com
ubcgcu 
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