Towards a Christian Approach to Academic Engagement

An approach to academic engagement is being developed by, with and for the UK Christian Academic Network. It seeks to engage with mainstream thought, rather than either antagonise or acquiesce.

Overview essay on The Gospel and Academia: Why and How? covering Theological Motivation, Strategic Approach, Practical Method and Conceptual Tool. A personal reflection, looking back on life as a Christian academic.

Two strands have so far been developed, SDC: Shaping Our Disciplines for Christ, and LACE: Listen, Affirm, Critique and Enrich. SDC is at a higher, more abstract level, including about motivation. LACE is at the more practical level.

Theological Motivation (Summary)

For now, see the essay above.

But how? What strategic direction should we take, and what methods? Are there any tools available to help us?

Strategic Approach, SDC: Shaping Our Disciplines for Christ

• Questions Posed By SDC

• Some Examples

Practical Method, LACE: Listen, Affirm, Critique, Enrich

• LACE Introduction

• Listen: Truly Understanding What is Meaningful

• Affirm: Affirming What is Valid

• Critique: Uncovering Important Weaknesses
• Critique: Assumptions and Presuppositions

• Why We Should Enrich Mainstream thought
• How to Enrich Mainstream Thought
• Recommendations
• Allowing Mainstream Thought to Enrich or Influence Christian Thought
• More to be added

Conceptual Tool, Dooyeweerd's Aspects

• For overview, see the essay above.
• Foundations and Practice of Research: : Adventures with Dooyeweerd's Philosophy
• Understanding Research with Dooyeweerd
• Aspects of Reality.

See also:

• Home Page: Christian Thinking Space

• Engaging the University by Vinoth Ramachandra (15 minutes) on how Christians undergraduates, researchers and staff may engage the university and bring the light of Christ.

• Thinking Faith Network blog on engaging in debate and controversy (https://thinkfaith.net/2017/11/06/how-to-engage-in-debate-and-controversy/)

• Engaging with Secular Thought - a talk and workshops for Christian graduates at Leeds and York Universities, U.K., 3 November 2011.

• Some examples of engaging, within that page

Author: Andrew Basden.

First created: 16 January 2021 Last updated: 18 January 2021. 4 October 2021 new title and intro; link to cts home, corrected seealso links. 11 October 2021 link to Vinoth R. 29 May 2022 Recommendations. 21 June 2022 essay and sections.