May 1, 2006

The R.L. Caulkins Lectureship, which annually brings at least two speakers to campus, featured its namesake this year, with Dr. Richard Caulkins speaking last month about liberal arts education.

Caulkins, a distinguished professor of humanities, has taught at Corban for 50 years. He's been a professor, English department chair, music department chair, dean of academics and dean of students. His education includes a bachelor’s degree from University of California at Berkley, a master’s degree from Oregon State University and doctorate in English from the University of Oregon.

A man of many interests, he drew upon his literary knowledge and life experiences to share with his audience the unique value of a Christian liberal arts education.

"It's the most valuable thing you could possibly expose yourself to," Caulkins said. "The liberal arts are basically those studies that make a person free, free from prejudice, intolerance and ignorance."

At the beginning of his lecture, Caulkins poked fun at liberal arts' reputation as an impractical course of study for well-heeled college students. In truth, the meaning of the word "liberal" is rooted in the Latin word "liber," which means "free man." Greece did, in fact, offer the first liberal arts training only to the upper classes. Then, in the Middle Ages, universities offered the trivium – rhetoric, grammar and logic – and the quadrivium – arithmetic, astronomy, music and geometry – to wealthy students.

And liberal arts today?

"If you graduate from college and can't get a job, you've had a liberal arts education," Caulkins joked.

Jokes aside, the distinguished professor quickly challenged his audience to look beyond the surface, at the way liberal arts integrates subjects. This kind of study feeds "both the heart and mind," gives students the "ability and courage to make value judgements," and is "education to be a human being," Caulkins said, quoting some of his favorite philosophers and writers.

For Christian scholars, the connection of one subject to another is natural because each subject was created by the same God. Looking at every subject through the Bible's perspective is challenging but rewarding for both teacher and student. The symbiosis of studying truth while having a relationship with the author of truth is one of life's greatest joys, Caulkins said.

"Liberal arts must include all the materials from the languages, sciences, history, philosophy and fine arts. That's almost everything, isn't it? The approach must go beyond the immediate, practical use, as in technical education, to the implications and relationships of basic ideas," he said. "In Christian education, the proper use of theology and the Bible should be the most liberating subject of all, especially since only the Christian is truly free, free from the law of sin and death."

Caulkins proposed that learning to create art, music and literature is a worthwhile endeavor because these expressions are humankind's way of imitating their creator. For example, "Lord of the Rings" author J.R. Tolkien said his books were only "sub-creation," compared with God's original work.

"Only God can create, but we're imitating God, and isn't that what we're supposed to do?" Caulkins asked.

The evening lecture ended with a question-and-answer session, in which Caulkins talked about his life and experiences. He explained how he stumbled upon mentors such as Shakespeare scholar Bertrand Evans, how he read every book he could lay his hands on, and how he seizes opportunities to enjoy art and music. Several times, he urged students in the audience to work hard, seek broadening experiences, and watch in wonder as their education enriches their lives and careers.

"Excel at what you do. Don't settle for not only second best, but third, fourth or fifth best," he said.

Next school year’s R.L. Caulkins Lectureship guests are Dr. Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, a poet and professor from Westmont College, Nancy Pearcey, an Christian philosopher and author of “Total Truth,”; and Dr. Darrell L. Bock, author of “Breaking the Da Vinci Code.”