Dr. Dockery's article titled "Integrating Faith & Learning in Higher Education" describes the history of colleges and universities and how over time the integration of faith and learning has become separated from the curriculum of many of American colleges and universities.
Montreat College is a Christ-centered, liberal arts college. For me, Montreat is my first experience in a Christian atmosphere. I never realized how important injecting faith into my every aspect of my daily life is important, not only for me personally, but to grow my relationship with Christ.
Dockery discusses the importance of a Christian worldview. Creating a worldview with a Christian perspective was totally new to me when I arrived on campus. But, with each class I understand how important it is to look at the world with a Christian heart, mind, and soul. I know my worldview is not perfect, but I only hope it is growing towards a Christian perspective everyday. The decisions I make everyday does affect my worldview in a positive or negative way. The important thing is for to realize the decisions I make in light of my worldview.
Dockery speaks of a famous statement by Bernard of Clairveaux. In that statement, he describes why students seek knowledge. In other words, why go to school, why go to college? His first two reasons are primarily for self-purpose. However, the third reason is specifically to seek knowledge to serve others. Montreat, through it's faith integration in the classroom, works to help us, including me to understand why I am here at Montreat. Part of my education is of course to get a job, a career, a vocation. However, it is important to also seek knowledge and a vocation where I am serving others. My hope is that with my major in Human Services, I will be prepared to go out and use my knowledge, my worldview, and Montreat experience to help others.
Being a part of the basketball team has only encouraged the development of my Christian worldview. Coach Robinson has been a great influence on me in helping me grow as a man, a student, and most of all a Christian.
Dockery's article is a great, easy read to help students reflect on why a Christian education is very important. His section on the history of universities is helpful in understanding how we got to the point we are in today's society with education.
