When the Church Comes to Campus: Christian Convictions and the Challenge Toward Authentic Membership in the Secular Academy

Authors

Henrique G. Alvim, Walsh University

Abstract

This article argues for a certain kind of pluralism in the context of the secular university that would afford Christians the opportunity to more intentionally bring their religious convictions and resources to their lived experiences and academic pursuits. It points to possibilities in what pertains to the place of believers while also reminding the Church of what it ought to be in these shared educational spaces: a community of worship, not of domination. As both the university and the Church rethink ways in which to respectfully engage with one another, thus taking faith commitments more seriously, collaboration among all members of the secular academy can lead to the flourishing of all human life. Amidst apprehensions and challenges discussed, the author reasons that, through hospitality and mutual understanding, the Church can become an authentic member of the academy, complementing the aims of the secular university and thus of pluralism itself.

Recommended Citation

Alvim, Henrique G. (2021) "When the Church Comes to Campus: Christian Convictions and the Challenge Toward Authentic Membership in the Secular Academy," Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development: Vol. 20: No. 20, Article 5.
Available at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/acsd_growth/vol20/iss20/5