Students & the Spiritual Life
Numerous resources are available to help students build a solid foundation for their faith and belief. The faculty of Gutenberg College are committed to supporting the students’ spiritual growth and well-being and to helping them understand the Bible and how to apply its message and principles to their lives. Yet, the faculty believe that students must come to terms with the claims of the gospel for themselves and, in the end, make decisions about what they believe about biblical Christianity. Therefore, Gutenberg College’s program does not require participation in particular worship or communal activities.
Gutenberg College seeks instead to provide a supportive environment where students can decide about worship and Bible study for themselves. The faculty are always ready to come alongside students to help them make choices about how to express and pursue their faith. Faculty, staff, and other students who are familiar with a number of churches (of various worship styles) within and outside the Eugene area are a valuable resource for new Gutenberg students looking for a church to attend while they are at the college.
Students will study some biblical texts as part of the Great Books curriculum. Students are also encouraged (but not required) to study the Scriptures through Bible studies and discussion groups outside course offerings.
McKenzie Study Center (MSC), an institute of Gutenberg College, is a Christian ministry that seeks to help students (and others in the community) grapple with what it means to have a biblical worldview in the context of a generally hostile society. MSC sponsors a variety of activities that are not part of the Gutenberg curriculum. Gutenberg students are welcome (but not required) to participate in these extracurricular activities. For example, MSC offers classes on a variety of topics related to understanding the biblical worldview. Offerings have included: "Biblical Christianity 101," "A Biblical Perspective on Sexuality and Relationships," "An Exegetical Look at Galatians," "Church History," "Does Christianity Have Anything To Say About Environmental Ethics?" and "What is Truth?" MSC is committed to providing a safe place for honest and open inquiry into life’s big questions (Who is God? What does it mean to be human? How does one’s faith relate to various aspects of life?) toward the end that each person’s faith will be biblical, true, and rational.
