Mind Your Faith: A Student's Guide to Thinking and Living Well

In June of this year, I held May Grace Precede's first ‘Mentalmorphosis’ seminar where we hosted a group of young, Christian, current, or soon-to-be college freshmen with the aim of encouraging sound thinking, especially about existential and moral matters. Though the event was a success, there was a felt need to provide additional resources that adequately encompass and expand upon the principles taught at an appropriate reading level. Our search led us to ‘Mind your Faith: A student’s guide to thinking and living well’ by David A. Horner and what a find it was!“Ideas have consequences: what we believe will determine how we behave, and ultimately who we become”. This is true for individuals, for families, for institutions, and for cultures”.“Yes, it is possible to have knowledge of true doctrine without personal commitment. But it is also possible to be passionately committed to what is false, to be devoted to a destructive fantasy…what we believe matters.”The author endeavors to show how one’s mind relates to character development and behavior through faith. In doing so, he explores a range of topics including the relation between reality, truth, and belief; basic epistemology; logical and contextual thinking; worldviews and ‘true’ tolerance; and the connection between faith and reason. These abstract concepts are communicated with clarity and concision and presented within an overarching Biblical and apologetic framework.Dr. Horner is resolute that, “Thinking, believing, and living well demand a fully rational faith and a fully faithful reason.” Additionally, he takes the position that propositional knowledge, though necessary, is subservient to the ultimate goal of personal knowledge, specifically of God. I share in both of his convictions.None of the topics; however, are discussed sufficiently to grant the reader a level of mastery in understanding and so the book is introductory at best. Nevertheless, its strength is found in the lucidity and precision with which the author displays the practical interrelatedness between philosophy and the Christian faith to a late, adolescent audience.In short, Dr. Horner does what he sets out to do quite well. This book will be a part of our ministry for some time to come as we recommend it to all Christian high-school graduates of sufficient (intellectual) maturity. We do so with the hope of developing a more contemplative and caring, Christ-exalting, Christian community in the future.

I am not a scholar or somebody who teaches college students. But I did spend seven years at two secular universities, and I'm familiar with what passes for "established truth" in an environment that can be hostile to those who won't embrace relativism, naturalism and Darwinism. We need some effective intellectual ammunition to process the baloney being dished out liberally by many professors and students on college campuses.In Mind Your Faith, Dr. Horner has provided a munitions depot of logically rigorous, but very readable, ammo to help students think clearly, that they may stand strong and confident against illogical dogma. This should not be just a defensive strategy; we need to take the intellectual contest to the other side.There are a lot of sections in the book to like, but one of my favorites deals with the fallacy of "scientism," a metaphysical belief system held by many educational elites that says we should accept as valid truth only what can be physically seen and measured, only that which can be tested by scientific methodology. Horner offers some great insights.If you happen to disagree about some of these issues, you'll find this book to be a rational discussion that will challenge you in an amicable way. In fact, Horner devotes considerable attention to the process of meaningful debate and engaging with those who share a view that is different than yours.The book provides a fine analysis of the logical and philosophical foundation that is needed for us to develop a sensible worldview, to guide our decisions in life. Some worldviews really do stand up better to scrutiny than others and the author suggests we not be afraid to evaluate our own views critically.The bottom line is a paradigm where reason is in synch with faith, not the enemy of faith. A robust faith is not afraid of being exposed to critical thinking. This book presents an explanation of the building blocks needed to grow in our faith, and how this plays out in the way we live. Although targeted towards students in college, most of this material is invaluable for anyone who wants to live well a life of faith.

"For a follower of Jesus the pursuit of a university education should be seen as a positive, exciting endeavor, not something to be endured or escaped. It is to be loved rather than feared."Another addition to my faith in higher education library is Mind Your Faith by David Horner. A Christian university professor educated in the secular environment, Horner clearly sees how many universities have given up on teaching meaning and spirituality and how many Christians - who attend faith-based or secular universities - decide to separate their faith and intellect during college.Faith and reason are not meant to be disconnected; reason does not undermine faith and faith does not abolish reason. We are meant to use our God-given minds to support our faith and worship our Lord.Horner frequently discusses the prophet Daniel a great example of man who faced many challenges at "Babylon University" yet met every temptation with a strong faith and educated mind. Additionally, Horner walks us through a course in philosophy, assisting the reader in debunking commonly held perspectives such as relativism.Though I was not amazed by the book, I think Mind Your Faith is a respectable book about the role of mind and faith. Education should be of utmost importance to a follower of Christ, because Christ made it all. I especially enjoyed his constant commendations to community. "Communities are made of relationships that gives us models, hold us accountable, encourage us, comfort us and provide us opportunities for ministry."

Very good thinking. Helpful to see what is real and how we should interpret truth claims.