The Vocation of the Christian Scholar: How Christian Faith Can Sustain the Life of the Mind

Foreword by Samuel L. Hill

Richard T. Hughes's highly praised book on the relationship between Christian faith and secular learning -- originally titled How Christian Faith Can Sustain the Life of the Mind -- is now available in this revised and expanded edition, which speaks more directly to the subject of vocation. In a substantial new preface Hughes recounts his own vocational journey, telling how he drew on Christian theology to discover his talents and how best to use them. Another new chapter explores the vocation of Christian colleges and universities, including the purposes and goals of church-related education.

Drawing from the Catholic, Reformed, Lutheran, and Anabaptist traditions, Hughes shows how the Christian scholar can embrace paradox rather than dogmatism. His reflections provide a compelling argument that faith, properly pursued, nourishes the openness and curiosity that make a life of the mind possible.