Teaching

Here is some of my philosophy of teaching, and so some of the things you can expect in my classes.

1. Great Texts

Great texts make you a bigger and better person, morally, intellectually, and spiritually. With each great text you get to know, you become a better human being and therefore a better citizen. This is the value, in my humble opinion, of reading the great texts of the literary canon.

2. Great American Texts

Most of my classes are in American literature. American literature, like the United States itself, is amazing. One can hardly believe that this literary history is so varied, powerful, beautiful, and great. To get to know the great texts of the American literary canon is, in my humble opinion, to get to know, become part of, and contribute to, the great democratic experiment of the United States.

3. The Virtues

The College of Arts and Sciences at Baylor emphasizes the cultivation of virtue in our curriculum, and I deeply believe that this is one of the values of the study of great literature.

I quote from our webpage on “Core Virtues” :

“The College of Arts & Sciences’ core curriculum enables students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and virtues needed to uncover and recognize truth, to deepen their faith, to live virtuously, to strengthen their communities, and to affect the world in transformative ways. To that end, the core curriculum aims to inspire moral, intellectual, and spiritual virtues.

Virtues are excellences of character that enable a person to live a life of well-being and happiness. Furthermore, virtues direct one’s actions because they allow one to love and desire what is true, good, and beautiful…Within the Christian tradition, seven virtues—four cardinal and three theological—are understood as those from which all other virtues flow. The cardinal virtues—wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance—are those which can be fostered through diligent practice. The theological virtues—faith, hope, and love—are considered gifts, imparted through God’s grace, and are therefore exclusively spiritual virtues that cannot be generated or perfected solely by human effort.”

These words describe Baylor’s core curriculum. I think they are true of every class. It is my intention to put them them into practice in every class. This is what you can expect in my classes.

4. Christianity and Modern Texts: “Second Naivete”

Much of my teaching is in 20th/21st century literature and thought. Here I emphasize discussion of the great texts of modernity from the perspective of Christian faith and theology. Paul Ricoeur speaks of the “second naivete” of the Christian scholar. Jesus teaches, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Mk. 10:15). There is a simple trust and love for God that is essential to Christian life. This is the “first naivete”. Modern thought and writing is often highly critical of Christianity. Christian intellectuals aim to understand these criticisms and, having done so, to continue to maintain the childlike trust in God of which Jesus speaks. This is the “second naivete”. You understand how modern writers think, and on the other side of their criticisms , able to respond to them, you still maintain the simple faith in God to which Jesus calls the Christian. It is in this spirit that we discuss the great texts of modernity in my classes.