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The core curriculum of any undergraduate program is critical, for it says something about what that institution deems significant. Recently, a Harvard curriculum committee reported that a Harvard graduate should know “the role of religion in contemporary, historical, or future events—personal, cultural, national or international.” The committee therefore recommended that every Harvard student be required to take one course in an area the committee called “Reason and Faith.” In other words, this committee is saying that part of being educated is to be exposed to the role of religion in life.
What is remarkable here is that Harvard was established in the 1600s as a college to train pastors and other Christian workers. It was the first college in colonial America and had as its purpose the building of God’s kingdom. Faith was a central aspect of preparation for any vocation at Harvard, let alone a ministry profession. But beginning in the 19th century and accelerating into the 20th century, faith was marginalized in the typical college curriculum—and Harvard was no exception. By the 1960s, matters of faith were mocked and removed from almost all aspects of the curriculum. An antisupernaturalism pervaded the typical undergraduate education in America. Universities like Harvard were not neutral when it came to matters of faith; they were hostile to it. So, that Harvard is even considering introducing a course into its core curriculum on faith and reason is astonishing. Religion and theology are at the core of ethics, morality, life issues (e.g., abortion, euthanasia), stem cell research and the entire conflict with Islam. In fact, you cannot come to grips with these issues without some understanding of theology and religion. So, I applaud what Harvard is considering.
The whole message of revealed truth is that humans are not only social, economic, political and emotional (psychological) beings; humans are also spiritual beings. One cannot ignore this dimension of the human condition and do anything of eternal significance. To be truly educated is to be exposed to this spiritual dimension of life.
See John I. Jenkins and Thomas Burish, “Reason and Faith at Harvard” in the Washington Post (23 October 2006). |
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