This just sent to us from a Lighthouse Trails reader. We have written about Baylor University over the years and watched their move in the contemplative/emerging direction. This news story from the Waco Tribune-Herald online paper confirms what is happening at Baylor (and incidentally is happening in Christian schools across North America).
“Baylor professors using meditation, reflection exercises to boost students’ focus”
By REGINA DENNIS
Waco Tribune-Herald
Some Baylor University professors have found that setting aside class time for meditation or personal reflection helps students become more focused for lessons.
A core of about 20 professors is using a variety of contemplative practices like meditation, keeping a journal or chanting in the classrooms, which they say boosts students’ concentration in class and critical thinking skills in discussing course material.
The group, called the Baylor Contemplatives, teaches subjects like art, theology, science and business.
“With any university in America or in the Western world, there’s a bit of a suspicion about contemplative exercises, because they might seem sort of soft or kind of wishy-washy, or they’re not critical enough,” said Blake Burleson, a world religion professor who helped organize the group. . . .
In his classes, Burleson has displayed a painting on a projector and had students observe and write about the piece for five minutes, an exercise that is repeated later in the semester to see if the students’ perspectives about the artwork have changed. He also has had his religion students chant a spiritual mantra at the start of class or study a haiku poem. Click here to continue reading.
Related Articles:
Contemplative Baylor University Students Propose Change to Conduct Code on Homosexuality (2013)
Emergent/Mystical Leaders at Baylor University (2009)
Conference Alert: Al Gore and Tony Campolo to Address Baptist Organizations (2008)
Leonard Sweet Speaks at Baylor University (2007)
Head of Evangelical Group Converts to Catholicism (2007)
Baylor University Invites Ken Blanchard (2006)
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