Lafayette College - Melange Yearbook (Easton, PA)

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RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION PRESERVES, STRENGTHENS FAITH It is the task of the religion department to provide nearly four hundred students each semester With objective religious instruction. Since an understanding of the West's domi- nant religion is necessary for an appreciation of both the religion and our civilization, the College requires every student to study Chris- tianity for one full year. The basic course utilizes Dr. Tilden's Towards Understanding Jesus as its major and vivid text. Feeling that pre-theological students should reserve detailed study for seminary, the de- partment offers no program for majors. It does sponsor the Brainard Society for stu- dents interested in the ministry or in profes- sional church Work. Guest speakers generally discuss the aspects of the ministry and of mis- sionary Work. The college is proud that such a vital part of man's life is strengthened by this able de- partment. THE RELIGION DEPARTMENT in- cludes Associate Professor W. Edward Wing, Instructor Donald Kocher, and In- structor Donalcl Weber standing with As- sistant Professor C. Waylancl James and Professor Earl E. Tilden seated. MEN of the David Brainard Society, sponsored by the Religion Dept. for students in- terested in Christian service, meet to discuss professional aspects of the ministry. First row: Robert Stevenson, William Neclunan, George Bastard, Chaplain John Carrie. Second row: James Boettler, Donald Boardman, Russell Wells, Max Creswell, Douglas Zweizig, Albert Biebefr.

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ELWYN E. TILDEN Religion Department GEORGE A. CLARK Philosophy Department WILLIAM W. WATT English Department E. B. CODDINGTON History Department W. EDWARD BROWN Language Department Dr. Tilden is the author of the text Toward Understanding Jesus and of several articles dealing with New Testament studies, his field of special interest. These articles have ap- peared in numerous professional and scholar- ly publications. Dr. Clark who is particularly interested in theories concerning value judgments of right and wrong, has published several articles in leading philosophic journals. He is planning t-0 attend the East-West Philosophy Confer- ence to be held in Hawaii. Dr. Watt, whose special interest is in the Victorian period, has written for numerous publications, including the New Yorker, and is the author or co-author, of several texts, two of which are presently in use at Lafayette. Dr. Coddington, the Bull Moose, is a well known authority on the Civil War and has published several articles and book reviews dealing with the war. He holds positions in several national and state historical societies. Dr. W. Edward Brown, an outstanding scholar, a member of numerous honorary and scholarly societies, a highly respected profes- sor, is presently engaged in deciphering the Pylos scrolls, written in an early Greek script. 21

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THE PHILOSOPHY faculty: Ins.Law7'ence Resnick, Assoc. Prof. George Stroclachg Prof. George Clark. Dr. LAURENCE RESNIK leads a discus sion of causation theories in philosophy of science. THE DEEPER THINKERS of the Lafayette campus congregate in the library of Watson Hall for both discussion and argument concerning philosophy. Seated are: Dr. George A. Clark fadvisorj, Raymond Hersh, James Graff, and Tony Rallo, while standing are: James L. Beottler, Lem Howell, Joseph Bongiovi, Edwin Curley, and Rigby H. Graham. PHILOSOPHY DEVELOPS INDEPENDENT, SEARCHING MINDS The philosophy department is unique for its critical examination of the often unques- tioned Judaeo-Christian ethic in its basic ethics course. In this study, as in all others of the department, more enlightened and bet- ter-founded attitudes tend to develop. Philos- ophy is designed to make people think. Although there are few senior philosophy majors, the department has an excellent honors program for those qualified. The iirst year of the program involves background readings from Plato to Russell, the second, a thesis on some problem or about a major phi1osopher's views. The department-sponsored Philosophy Club features outside speakers as Well as a few student papers. The topics range from the problem of gdod and evil to the philosophy of Nietzsche. The department prepares its majors for al- most any executive business position and for the best graduate and law schools. 23