An Introduction to the Christian Liberal Arts: An Engineer’s Perspective

About An Introduction to the Christian Liberal Arts: An Engineer’s Perspective

Abstract

This paper introduces and investigates the Christian liberal arts by examining their relationship to the professions, with engineering the prime example. This approach illuminates both the liberal arts and the professions, engineering especially. The investigation is guided by the use of three categories or “turns,” so named due to their spiraling nature: content and practice, common features, and common virtues. Several observations are made within each turn, with greater depth at each turn. The observations are not comprehensive but are intended to serve as a helpful introduction and to spur further reflection and conversation. The goals of this paper are to: 1) advance understanding of and respect for both the Christian liberal arts and the professions, especially engineering, among engineering faculty and, through them, engineering students, non-engineering students, and non-engineering faculty; and 2) encourage growth in Christ-likeness.