DQ1-2

DQ 2 Responses

1.

Having taken my undergraduate degree here, at GCU, I have found that the type of schooling and support at GCU comes from great values and beliefs. There is a class required to take for your undergraduate called "Christian World Views." I had grown up in a strict christian background and having attened GCU at the age of 23, I still had/have my christian beliefs so why do i have to take this class? After what i didnt realize at the time was "push back" in the class, I realized that this class, yes it taught about christian views throughout the world, but it also taught us to open our minds and accept the views of others. This can play a huige part in preparing yourself for a career. There are going to be many times where you do not agree with someone and as a professional you need to learn how to handle that type of situation. 

 

On another note, the fact that GCU offers chapel (especially for credits) is amazing. I do not go to church like i used to, especially at a young college age because my parents were not forcing me to go anymore. I think having  place where young adults can go and feel grounded and hold on to their values or learn new faith based practices helps them not lose themselves as much if they were to attend a school that was not faith based.  

2.

A key difference between GCU’s Christian heritage and other academic institutions are the words ‘we believe’ found at the beginning of each sentence in the GCU Doctrinal Statement. These words connect all that are part of the institution on a deeper level, over and above the connection to academics. It is this deeper level connection that sets GCU apart from other non-faith based institutions.

The Doctrinal Statement provides a unifying sets of ideals that all Christians already subscribe to but perhaps had not seen it described in such a way. The unifying words in the statement drive home the feeling that we are part of something much bigger and it is because of that idea we are able to stand tall in the face of anything that troubles us.

I feel tall and grateful to be part of something bigger than myself; in my academic journey, this translates to the understanding that I have a community that I can depend on and that depends on me.

3.

 believe that the academic expereince is different in a faith-based insitution than a non-faith based institution because there are more questions to ask and learn from when dealing with spiritual and faith based matters. It challenges you to look at material in a different way and find various means in which they can be solved. I believe that a faith-based education, whether a believer or not, gives us an opportuinity to learn material from all different angles and understand it differently. We are taking subject matter, and not only get to look at it secularly without bias, but spiritually without that sam bias. It is a marvelous challenge. I belive this type of learning envirmonemnt will not only strengthen us in our field, but also define us as people. I received my undergraduate education at a liberal arts christian college (kind of sounds like an oxymoron) and it was during this time that all of my beliefs that I was raised with were challenged. It was here that I was able to really pick and choose what I believed, came into my own, and had answers where before I didn't have any.