MacLaurin Weblog
"Tolkien had taught him [C.S. Lewis]
that the inability to believe in Christianity was primarily a...
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MacLaurinCSF Reading Groups are small discussion groups in which members read in conversation with each other. Gr...
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Calendar of Events
Announcing the MacLaurin Insitute's Summer Seminar, "The Problem with the Modern Self: Imagining Personhood in Light of Limitations, Disability, and Suffering"
August 2, 2011; 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Paideia Forum
MacLaurin's Paideia Forum provides a regular venue for the
Twin Cities community (including the University community) to hear and
respond
to local or regional scholars interested in entering or advancing
MacLaurin's
conversation about Christianity and scholarship (or faith and reason).
The Forum is currently on select Tuesday nights at 7pm at Stadium
Village Church. See the calendar for details.
What is "paideia"? This Greek word once described the kind of education that leaders in classical Greece developed to instill character and promote human flourishing in their youth. Our use of this concept for the forum reflects our commitment to education in the fullest sense, involving the formation of human desires and loves, as well as our reason and behavior. Toward this end, the forum provides a venue for scholars, artists, clergy, and other cultural leaders to explore the resources of the Christian faith for academic and intellectual pursuits.
What is "paideia"? This Greek word once described the kind of education that leaders in classical Greece developed to instill character and promote human flourishing in their youth. Our use of this concept for the forum reflects our commitment to education in the fullest sense, involving the formation of human desires and loves, as well as our reason and behavior. Toward this end, the forum provides a venue for scholars, artists, clergy, and other cultural leaders to explore the resources of the Christian faith for academic and intellectual pursuits.
UPCOMING FALL 2010 PAIDEIA FORUMS
Tuesday, December 7, 7pm
Darin Mather, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota
Gender Attitudes in Religious Schools: A Comparative Study of Catholic, Evangelical and Secular Private Schools in Guatemala
Since colonial times, religious groups have been major educational providers in the third world. Though the state and secular organization have now taken more prominent educational roles in developing nations, faith based organizations are still significant contributors. The World Bank estimated that in 2000, 50% of education services in sub-Saharan Africa were provided by religious organizations. The Catholic church alone has more than 250,000 schools worldwide. Yet, despite their prevalence, religious schools have been virtually ignored by educational development scholars. This study aims to provide more insight into the impact of religious schools by focusing particular attention on an issue that is high on the international development agenda--girls' education. It undertakes a comparison of private Catholic, evangelical and secular schools in Guatemala to determine if there are differences between these institutions in gender outcomes particularly in the areas of academic confidence levels, self-esteem and gender attitudes. Research results provide insights into the impact that Christian educational organizations, and the religious beliefs and values that they espouse, have on girls' educational development in a third world context.
Fall 2010 Paideia Forums take place at Stadium Village Church on the corner of Oak and Essex (just a few blocks south of the new TCF Gopher Stadium). Evening parking is available in the lot behind the church, at the meters along Oak, and in the Oak Street Garage.
Please check back in the next few months for the Spring Paideia Forum schedule!



