Ohio Mid-Western College | a higher eduaction with a higher calling

Christian Philosophy of Education

The following information was adapted from and used by permission from Dr. Gail E. Terrell's Christian Philosophy of Education, co-founder of Ohio Mid-Western College.

A Christian philosophy (Greek, the love of wisdom) of education is a concept for acquiring wisdom that is derived from sources provided by Bible-centered Christian theology (Greek, study of God) and Christian philosophy. From these sources a Christian philosophy of education can be abstracted which can serve man by providing:

1. A Metaphysical system with a coordinated worldview which gives unity and meaning to life. Metaphysics (Greek, beyond the physical) deals with questions concerning ontology (Greek, the study of being, i.e., reality) and cosmology (Greek, the study of the universe, i.e., as a whole).
2. An Epistemological system showing relations and inter-relations in the totality of truth and provides for developing the curriculum with a systematic presentation of knowledge. Epistemology (Greek, study of knowing) deals with the questions concerning the nature of the cognitive (Latin, knowing) processes, the sources of human knowledge, and the methods of validating ideas.
3. An Axiological system with emphasis on absolute values and true objectives which gives purpose and direction to life. Axiology (Greek, study of value) deals with the theory and study of values of all types. Axiology encompasses both ethics (What is right?) and aesthetics (What is beautiful?). Christian axiology incorporates the universal, unchanging, absolute standards of value revealed by God in the Bible. The Biblical Absolutes included:
   1. God Is.
   2. God has revealed Himself through creation (general revelation), the Bible, and Jesus Christ (special revelation).
   3. The verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible.
   4. Man's rebellion against God.
   5. Judgment and the reality of Hell.
   6. The death of Jesus Christ as the substitute for rebellious mankind.
   7. Salvation of the soul, and new birth through faith in Jesus Christ.
   8. The childhood of God through Jesus Christ.

A brief summary of a Christian philosophy of education is as follows:

1. God is the supreme center of all reality (Metaphysics).
2. All knowledge must be seen through God's Word, the Holy Bible (Epistemology).
3. The Holy Bible, God's Word, reveals the unique, unchanging, absolute standards of value (Axiology).
4. All these concepts are integrated through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ the Son of God (Philosophy of Life).
5. Education has the purpose to prepare the individual in the service of God (Philosophy of Education).