Erskine’s mission of Christian commitment and excellence in learning, along with its strong sense of community, made my decision to spend my college years at Erskine clear to me. After spending three years at Erskine I am concerned that it is not living up to its commitment to have a Christ-centered environment. I have found that the last three years of my life have been a time in which as a young adult I have begun exploring how I see the world, how I can live in the world but not be of it, and who God has made me to be. I believe the college years are a time in the young adult’s life in which they begin to separate from their parent’s worldview, begin to form their own, and act upon that view. I will be a senior next year, and though I feel as though I have had a solid education, I am disappointed that I have not felt like faith has been integrated through learning in the Erskine classrooms, though by no means do I want Erskine to be a safe haven set completely apart from the world, nor do I support making Erskine a legalistic institution.

An example of how I’ve felt that faith and learning have been separated in the classroom is best found in one of my experiences as a freshman in a History class. First, I must say that the class itself was of high academic standard. It was a challenge and a wonderful learning experience. However, when discussing world religions, the question, “Can there be a monopoly on truth?” was raised. Studying other religions allowed me to expand the way I think about my faith and whether or not I believe it is the truth. However, in concluding the lessons on “What is truth?” there never was an appeal that Christianity is the truth. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. This is what I thought Erskine supported as the institution of learning for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. I understand that it is hard to integrate faith into every classroom session, and again, in no way do I want Erskine to be a safe haven of Christian students. However, in such a topic, I am concerned that even the fact that the institution stands on the truth that Christ is Truth was not mentioned. I have experienced this same neglect of integrating faith in learning in many other classrooms and other disciplines.

I have enjoyed my years at Erskine, and I do feel well educated. However, I at times regret that I did not seek out an institution that would have given me a much better Christian worldview to take into the world when I graduate next May. Erskine is a fine institution, but it needs to seek out being the institution committed to Christian commitment, not just excellence in learning, or excellence in the sports arena.

-Anonymous,
Class of 2010