September 21, 2004
Volume 2: Issue 9
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with Luke Lin
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What
happens when science and faith seem to contradict each other? Do you keep
the faith, keep the science, or discard both? It is characteristic of
living in this modern age to come across what scholars refer to as the
fact-value dichotomy, which simply means this: matters of religion are
all value-related, and thus, those matters are not as important and are to
be separated from those things which can be proven by science and can be
recognized as fact-based. The modern age esteems science and its findings
over anything else, especially issues of faith, just for the sheer fact
that science can be proven. The modernist believes that it is okay for you
to have your faith, but science is king over religion.
However,
on the other extreme, there are those who say that one's personal faith is
all that matters, and all science is to be ignored and discarded. In other
words, there is no need for one to examine the basis of one's own faith;
it is good enough to simply believe.
While we
as Christians hold the Scriptures as our source of authority, this does
not negate our responsibility to examine our faith and to support it with
reason and conviction. If we fail to look before we leap, we may end up
landing in a place where there is no support.
In the light of scientific
findings, we need to know more than ever what we believe and why we
believe. It is also not necessary to discard all scientific research that
"proves" the Scriptures wrong. In many cases, further research and study
can be done to harmonize scientific work with an informed and close
reading of Scripture.
After
all, we as Christians must be committed to veritas: the quest for
ultimate truth. Truth, however, is not an easy find. We must be committed
to dig deep, and to follow the command to love God with our whole beings -
with all of our hearts, souls, strengths, and minds. In the end,
reason and faith are not incompatible - the division between fact and
value can be bridged.
With careful study of true facts aligned with
informed and educated values, Christians can be equipped to inform others
of the good news which has been tried, tested, and true throughout the
ages.
This is
why those that are serious about the faith are commanded to study and show
themselves approved. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,
a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV |
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A recent
survey done on a secular college campus residence hall revealed that
although some students considered themselves to be Christian, very few of
them held committed beliefs about their personal faith. Even fewer
students acknowledged that their faith had any sort of bearing on the way
they lived their lives.
Somehow,
we as a culture have allowed commitment to be secondary to convenience. We
hop from church to church, from denomination to denomination, and from
belief to belief, hoping to find that which will satisfy us the most
instead of being focused on finding a niche from which we can serve
others.
Our
articles this month point to the need for commitment, especially among
Christians, who are supposed to be marked as a people of commitment - to
one God, to his church, and to a dark world in need of light. In the face
of a culture for which non-commitment and change is prevalent, may we as
Christians be strongly devoted to knowing the truth and sharing it with
others.
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featuring Erin Catt
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Over the last ten years I have
been privileged to know and be a part of Student Leadership
University. I first attended the conference as a
middle schooler during SLU's very first year. I had no idea just
how much everything I learned that week would impact me in the
years to come.
Since then, I have been blessed with the
opportunity to graduate from all four levels of SLU as well as
spending the last two years on the summer intern staff. God
has shown me so much through my involvement in SLU and I
believe I will continue to take the great lessons absorbed
there with me for the rest of my life. There is so much to be
learned from a conference like SLU and, in my opinion, no
better place to learn it.
Dr. Jay teaches, in one of his
first sessions at SLU, that there are two words we must fully
understand in order to be the leaders that we are called to
be. Those two words are foundation and future. Jesus teaches
us in His Word that we must lay a good foundation. SLU has
been a great part of that solid foundation in my life. It is
built on the Word of God and built on the instruction of great
men and women of God. Now, as a recent college graduate headed
toward my future, I am beginning to see just how important
that foundation is.
The word "prepare" means: pointed
in the right direction, to be made complete, equipped for
battle. Student Leadership University has prepared me to do
what I believe God has called me to do; I currently work in
the entertainment industry, a lost and worldly segment of our
culture. However, because of a continuing relationship with
Jesus Christ, and by applying the principles of His Word as
well as building my dreams and goals based on the material
taught at Student Leadership, God is using me to
influence this area of our culture for Him. John Maxwell says
that the greatest one word definition of a leader is
influence. I believe that God has called his children to stand
up and be the leaders that He has equipped us to be. He has
called us to influence a dying world.
Words cannot express clearly
enough or in enough detail the tremendous impact that Student
Leadership University has had on my life. A large part of who
I am today is not only because of the amazing relationships
that have formed through working with the program, but also
because of the solid foundation and preparation for the future
that I received in the training that they provide.
There is no
better investment for your life than to invest in equipping
yourself to better follow God's plans for your life. Don't be
afraid to do big things and don't forget to be faithful in the
small!
"For no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can
conceive what God has prepared for those who love Him" 1
Corinthians 2:9
Erin Catt is
an alum of each of our SLU programs and has served on our
summer intern staff for the last two years. Erin currently
works for the Walt Disney World corporation as a talent team
member. |
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As the summer of
2004 ends, we hope that you are doing well and reaching new
heights of leadership! At SLU, despite the storms, we had a
great turnout for Rock the Universe 2004 at Universal Studios
here in Orlando to top off a record-breaking SLU summer
season.
Expecting another
incredible year of SLU, we have kicked off Registration for
our 2005 season already! To get a head start in securing your
place with us next summer, and to receive the best discounts
that will be offered all year long, be sure to register online
with us here.
Registrations for
SLU 301 and 401 are already streaming in! Availability is
limited, so we encourage you to register early to save your
spot in what will be an incredible summer in 2005!
Don't forget that
most SLU information, including this year's
dates, is available online through our website at
www.studentleadership.net.
We want to
continue hearing from you! Let us know how your first weeks
back in school are going, or how you've been putting
leadership into practice. It is always a blessing to hear from
you. Our toll-free number is 1-888-260-2900. Look out for our new SLU Brochures headed
to your mailbox soon!
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This month we
feature as our wacky/funny link
The Titanic in 30 Seconds. It's performed by bunnies!
*Please note: Student Leadership University is not responsible
for content or links of third-party websites.
Have a weird,
funny, crazy, or wacky link?
E-mail it to us!
To view past
editions of The Edge, check out our archive
here.
Questions or comments are always welcome. E-mail us at
edge@studentleadership.net
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September 2004
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On the
Edge
This month Luke
Lin, SLU research assistant and graduate student at
Duke University, writes on the relation between faith
and reason. |
Edge Ledge
Your section
for culture and Christianity takes a look at the
importance of commitment in the Christian life.. |
Life on the Edge
The lessons learned
from SLU in the areas of being prepared and
influence have been essential in the life of one of
our SLU graduates and interns. Have an SLU story? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net
This month, we feature Erin Catt. |
Cutting Edge
What's up at SLU? Get the latest scoop on
what's happening here at Student Leadership University. |
Featured Articles
Check out the featured
articles of the month, including articles about the
latest stats on who believes in God, recent
scientific studies that support the Bible, and
faith hopping. By being
informed of these critical events, we can begin to shape
an effective response to culture. Stay informed by reading
this month's featured articles. |
Over the Edge
In this section of The
Edge, we feature a crazy, funny, usual, or just plain
wacky link for your viewing pleasure. Check out this
month's wacky link! |
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Follow the links for the
full article. |
Three Wise
Women?
Recent research shows that the "Three Wise Men" could
actually have been three wise women...
Read full article |
Faith Hopping
What other country on earth would have three national
political figures with such peripatetic religious
backgrounds? In most of the world, faith-hopping of this
sort is simply unheard of. Yet we Americans simply take it
for granted that people will move through different phases
in the course of their personal spiritual journeys, and we
always have...
Read full article |
Part of Bible
proven True
Fast forward to modern-day Jerusalem. The Siloam Tunnel in
that city matches the biblical description of King
Hezekiah's tunnel. But is it really the same one? That
question has stumped scholars for years...
Read full article |
Newsweek
against the New Testament
In the
wake of the Holocaust and with the rise of modern
sensitivities, liberal biblical critics have sought to
distance themselves from the clear teachings of the
Gospels. Furthermore, they have increasingly lambasted the
Gospels as unreliable...
Read full article |
Life's
Origins
The
tenets of many religious faiths hold that life sprung from
clay. Science has now backed that up. Researchers from the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston have shown that...
Read full article |
Who Believes
in God?
The
latest statistics on who believes and does not believe in
God...
Read full article |
Science
Explains Red Sea Miracle
Two
mathematicians--one from St. Petersburg, Russia and the
other from Hamburg, Germany--have concluded that the
Biblical story of Moses parting the rushing waters of the
Red Sea so 600,000 Jews could escape slavery by the
Egyptians was possible scientifically...
Read full article |
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"The defense
of the Gospel is most effective when combined with the
demeanor of Christ."
Art
Lindsay
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"Resolve
that whatever you do, you will bring the whole man to it; that
you will fling the whole weight of your being into it."
Orison Swett Marden
motivational speaker |
"Unless you believe,
you will not understand."
St. Augustine
Freedom of the Will |
"What can you say about a society that says that God is dead and
Elvis is alive?"
Irv Kupcinet |
"Fight the good
fight of faith."
I Timothy 6:12 |
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We want to hear from you! Do you
have a thoughtful response to the articles here? Have you
written a paper on one of the issues we're discussing this month
or have discussed? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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Established in 1994, Student Leadership University's
purpose is to empower students to conquer the future!
Combining hands-on experimental learning with a dynamic
classroom setting, students are equipped to influence
their generation for Christ with confidence.
For more information, visit us at
www.studentleadership.net or call us toll-free at
888-260-2900.
Edge Executive Editor:
Chris Crowe
Edge Associate Editor:
Luke Lin
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