PROGRAMS
Come learn with us
Our programming offers opportunities to explore the intellectual and cultural resources of the Christian tradition through stand-alone events, multi-week reading groups, as well as more sustained communities of intellectual and moral formation for students and faculty.
All of our programs embody our commitment to hospitality, generous conversation, and the integration of faith and life.
Classes
Director's Class
Taught by Mike Sacasas
Wednesdays September 11 - November 6 from 11:45 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.
In the CSC Classroom | For undergraduate and graduate students | Lunch provided
“How to Love God with All Your Mind: Christian Perspectives on the Search for Truth and Wisdom”
According to Jesus, the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, soul, strength, and mind. This raises the question, What does it mean to love God with all our mind? In this class, we will explore how the Christian tradition has answered that question throughout its history and why the mind matters to the life of faith. We will consider how a theological view of the human calling encourages our pursuit of knowledge and wisdom and how the life of the mind is related to the search for truth, goodness, and beauty. Finally, we will see how a Christian account of the mind deepens and enriches the pursuit of a university education.
Guest Lectures
Paul and Emily Pastor
Paul and Emily Pastor
With events September 12th and 13th
"The Holy Hunger: Encountering Beauty as the Engine of Creation"
Thursday September 12th at 7:00 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian Church
How does Beauty matter in our time of growing violence, confusion, and despair? In this inspiring talk led by writer Paul J. Pastor and fine artist Emily Pastor, we will explore the essential nature and purpose of Beauty in the Christian tradition, ask what holds us back from encountering the Beautiful, and begin to understand the high and wonderful stakes that true Beauty holds for our lives.
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"The Great Thanksgiving: Befriending Beauty in the Creative Life"
Friday September 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the Christian Study Center
Beauty is an eternal invitation to join a life far larger than our own. But what holds us back from this belonging, and how can we live in light of this Beauty in a world that is often ugly and profoundly painful? In this insightful talk led by fine artist Emily Pastor and writer Paul J. Pastor, we deepen our understanding of how we can meaningfully “befriend” Beauty in our lives, participating joyfully in the goodness and truth of creation according to our giftings and for the good of the world.
Tara Burton
Tara Burton
Lecture on Thursday November 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Symposium on Friday November 8 at 11:45 a.m.
CSC Classroom
Reading Groups
Retrieving Realism
Led by Joshua Perlin
Mondays October 7 - November 4 at 7:30 a.m.
Reading Retrieving Realism by Hubert Dreyfus and Charles Taylor
What does it mean to really know something? More provocatively, what does it mean to know something real? Join us at the Christian Study Center bright and early on Monday mornings this semester, as we read and discuss Retrieving Realism (2015), a contemporary perspective on these questions written by preeminent philosophers Hubert Dreyfus and Charles Taylor. This book has great relevance for controversial issues discussed today, such as truth, meaning, embodiment, agency, and relativism. Coffee will be provided.
High Conflict
Led by Natalie Van Hoose
Mondays September 16- October 7 at 5:30 p.m.
Reading High Conflict by Amanda Ripley
We’ve all seen conflicts blaze out of control, becoming all-consuming and leaving everyone involved worse off than before. In her award-winning book High Conflict, investigative journalist Amanda Ripley explores the nature of disagreements between individuals, groups, and nations that escalate into “us vs. them” existential battles. High conflict prevents us from being able to see or hear one another or recognize our shared humanity and dignity.
Christians are not immune: We may have shed our old identity as enemies of God, but too often, we’re diverted from fully embodying our new role as ambassadors of reconciliation through Christ. In this discussion-based group, we’ll learn how to identify and exit the trap of high conflict and gain new ways of understanding conflict – both the good and the soul-sapping kind – in the context of the cross and who Jesus calls us to be.
Jayber Crow
Led by Laurie Goddard and Hannah Garcia
Fridays September 20- October 18 10:40-11:25 a.m.
Reading Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Join us as we discuss Jayber Crow, a beloved novel from Wendell Berry’s Port William series. Through the perspective of a small-town barber, we follow the life of a community and its connections with the land, its members, and the changing times. This is a beautiful story with a richly developed setting. In it we will explore the themes of love, community, belonging, and perseverance.
Special Events
Fall Kickoff Event
Mike Sacasas
Tuesday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments, an orientation to the fall semester, and a talk from Mike Sacasas
“The Adventure of Thinking: The Life of the Mind in a World of Intelligent Machines”
We are increasingly surrounded by machines that promise (or threaten) to do our thinking for us. Some worry that these machines will soon become "super-intelligent" and render human thinking obsolete. This makes it a perfect time to ask fundamental questions: What is thinking? What is its purpose? What role does it play in our flourishing? Is there a distinctly Christian understanding of the mind that can help us navigate these challenges?
We'll consider these questions with a little help from an array of sources including Homer, Aristotle, Dante, Aquinas, and Hannah Arendt to argue that thinking is an adventure we should take up with courage and hope.
Pascal's 20th Anniversary
Hosted by Pascal's Coffeehouse
The week of October 7-12
We are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our coffeehouse, Pascal's. With events throughout the week, we hope you will join in the festivities.
"Calling Our Work Good: Finding Dignity in Language and Craft"
Public Lecture | Gracie Olmstead |Thursday, October 10th at 7:00 p.m. | CSC Classroom
Latte Art Throwdown
Open to the public | Saturday, October 12 at 10:30 a.m.
Fall Classical Concert
MasterWorks Festival performance presented by June Xu, Executive Director of Marker and Pioneer ICEC.
Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Peijun "June" Xu is a “String Artist & Arts Advocacy Champion.” She is currently a DMA Candidate at the University of Florida, studying Viola Performance with Dr. Lauren Burns Hodges and Music Entrepreneurship with Dr. Jose Valentino Ruiz. Peijun is a co-founder and executive director of MAP-ICEC, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization named Marker and Pioneer International Culture Exchange Center, hosting the MAP International Music Competition from 2021 to 2024, which has rapidly become a leading global online music competition.with MasterWorks Festival
In this performance, Peijun will be accompanied by Master Works Festival Faculty Member, Dr. Lauren Burns Hodges, Master Works Festival Alumni Abigail Carpenter, Aldo Castro, Weiyue (Walle) Ge, and guest musician Michael Knowles.
Please arrive at 7:00 p.m. for the reception before the performance begins at 7:15 p.m..
Brunch Tailgate
Hosted by the Christian Study Center
October 5th 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Before kickoff, join us for brunch and get a glance at the work and ministry of the Christian Study Center.
Please RSVP Here!
Art Gallery : CAIRN
By fine artist Emily Pastor
Featured from September to December 2024.
Barista Fellows Program
Barista Fellows learn to see life, work, and faith as intricately intertwined and deeply rooted in the Christian tradition, as they intentionally grow in the core values of community, craft, and hospitality.
Applications will open in October 2024.
Walker Percy Fellows Program
The inaugural Percy Fellows cohort will begin meeting this fall for year one of the curriculum focused on the cultivation of the Christian Mind. During this year, students will receive a grounding in the biblical story and in a Christian understanding of the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.
Year two will consider the Christian Life, and year three will explore the Christian Imagination.
