Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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29 Robert Mounce Walter Wcssel Pastor Alfred Glenn

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CHRI8TIANITY The purposes of Bethel College demand that aH of its areas of learning contribute to a student's basic appreciation of the Christian life. A Department of Christianity, however, has been established out of the conviction that the Christian faith itself constitutes a significant area of study in its own right. Courses have been designed to help students: (I) gain skills and essential background knowledge for the study of Biblical literature; (2) enter into a fuller understanding of the Wore of God both by viewing it in its broad perspective and by a more intensive study of its individual books; (3) appreciate the essential beliefs of evangelical Protestantism and the role of the Christian church in contemporary life; and (4) develop those attitudes which will lead him into a more sensitive awareness of the deeper dimensions of the Christian life.

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ENGLISH The department accepts the responsibility of leading students into a meaningful reading of literature. Students are encouraged to relate themselves to the ideas and emotions of men of letters. Such pursuits provide intellectual and aesthetic satisfaction. With the truth of the Bible as a constant focal point, continued read ing and personal relation develop a valid perspective of life, on enriched imagination, on understanding of the strengths and frailties shared by all men, and an enlarging vision of man and his human and divine responsibilities. Then, too. since our society is highly verbal, the department assists the student to understand his language and to master the skills of communication. Encouragement is given in various ways to be creative. One source of satisfaction is reflective thinking and v riting. Critical writing of this kind was presented by majors from the department who participated in the Twelfth Annual Conference of English Majors at Augsburg College. The topic of the conference was Modern Drama. Another source was explored by a major, Robert Monroe, who donated a scale model of the Globe Theater to the department, an invaluable teaching aid.