"Transformed Minds" Provides Biblical Framework
Transformed Minds contains five essays on biblical integration in various social sciences.
Cedarville University’s Department of History and Government recently published “Transformed Minds,” a collection of five essays on biblical integration within history, political science, and sociology.
“Our motivation is to demonstrate what is distinctive about integration at Cedarville in regards to maintaining biblical principle while learning in our fields,” said Thomas Mach, Ph.D., chair of the department of history and government.
“We emphasize that we view Scripture as inerrant, as well as affirm a literal, six-day view of Creation,” said Mach. “Those two distinctives really set Cedarville apart and affect the way we integrate.”
Mach penned the essay “Biblical Integration in History” to detail the eternal value of historical knowledge.
“Ultimately, we strive for a biblical foundation first and foremost,” said Richard Tison, Ph.D., assistant professor of history. “Our academic disciplines are not freestanding autonomous spheres, but require a scriptural foundation.”
“We want to debunk this myth of objectivity grounded in our own personal experiences and autonomous reason,” said Tison. “God’s word is the only possible objective foundation we could have.”
Tison wrote “History and the Biblical Worldview,” outlining the rational necessity of biblical revelation for objective meaning generally, and for studying and writing history specifically.
The other essays include “Human Nature and the Christian” by Marc Clauson, Ph.D., professor of history and law, “Integrating Biblical Truth into the Teaching of Sociology” by Robert Parr, Ph.D., professor of sociology, and “Thinking About God and Government” by Mark Smith, Ph.D., professor of political science.
“All knowledge is based on theology. We start with God and everything else flows from that. Whatever distinctions fields have, they all share a common source,” said Smith. “Every faculty member at a Christian institution ought to be a theologian.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings.
The essay collection is an 82 page pamphlet, available through the department’s office and Cedarville's Digital Commons, which articulates the principle beliefs of the department and how its faculty approach scholarly work from a biblical perspective.
“Our motivation is to demonstrate what is distinctive about integration at Cedarville in regards to maintaining biblical principle while learning in our fields,” said Thomas Mach, Ph.D., chair of the department of history and government.
“We emphasize that we view Scripture as inerrant, as well as affirm a literal, six-day view of Creation,” said Mach. “Those two distinctives really set Cedarville apart and affect the way we integrate.”
Mach penned the essay “Biblical Integration in History” to detail the eternal value of historical knowledge.
“Ultimately, we strive for a biblical foundation first and foremost,” said Richard Tison, Ph.D., assistant professor of history. “Our academic disciplines are not freestanding autonomous spheres, but require a scriptural foundation.”
“We want to debunk this myth of objectivity grounded in our own personal experiences and autonomous reason,” said Tison. “God’s word is the only possible objective foundation we could have.”
Tison wrote “History and the Biblical Worldview,” outlining the rational necessity of biblical revelation for objective meaning generally, and for studying and writing history specifically.
The other essays include “Human Nature and the Christian” by Marc Clauson, Ph.D., professor of history and law, “Integrating Biblical Truth into the Teaching of Sociology” by Robert Parr, Ph.D., professor of sociology, and “Thinking About God and Government” by Mark Smith, Ph.D., professor of political science.
“All knowledge is based on theology. We start with God and everything else flows from that. Whatever distinctions fields have, they all share a common source,” said Smith. “Every faculty member at a Christian institution ought to be a theologian.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings.