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Glauber Felipe Santos e Santos

Dr. Mark Cook

DCM 2301.02

10 November 2023

Fostering Faith and Virtue and DBU Community

While students at Dallas Baptist University (DBU) work hard to do well in school, the

halls also reverberate with the ideas of community life that Arthur Holmes wrote about in

Chapter 9 of "The Idea of a Christian College": "College as Community." Holmes strongly

supports the idea of the university as a place of love, service, dialogue, variety, responsibility,

and freedom in this chapter. He says that this place should be a safe place where students can

grow not only in information but also in faith and character. Holmes talks about the good and bad

things about living in a community and how it can help people grow personally and socially.

The way Holmes sees a Christian academic group fits right in with DBU's values. There,

the learning halls aren't just for passing on information; they're also for building a community

based on love, service, and conversation. I think about my time in this academic haven and the

rich tapestry of variety that Holmes sees, as well as the call to responsibility that he sees. The

university's dedication to faith and learning isn't just a phrase; it's a way of life that has changed

the whole community and helped me grow in important ways.

The great preacher and philosopher Jonathan Edwards, who lived in the 18th century,

gives this story a timeless quality. In "Personal Narrative," Edwards shares the intricate details of

his spiritual journey, which was full of challenges, questions, joys, and deep encounters with
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God. His focus on God's sovereignty, how bad people are, and the desire of holiness has been

remembered throughout the years and can be heard in the halls of DBU.

Edwards's ideas help me figure out how to deal with the difficulties of my schoolwork.

My own problems, joys, and the main goal of education are all seen through the lens of his story.

Edwards's promise to live for God's praise in everything is similar to the way things are at DBU,

where faith is not separated but is a big part of everything, even my studies in Music Business.

Holmes imagined a transformative community at DBU, which is shown by Edwards's

life. This community shows how one's surroundings can shape their desire for God and the goal

of virtue. It's not just in school; it's in every conversation, every class, and every part of

community life. Holmes believed that the real strength of a community lies in its ability to

promote holistic development. This means that the problems that a community faces are not

problems that need to be solved, but chances for growth.

Finally, the active community life at DBU, which was influenced by Arthur Holmes's

ideas and Jonathan Edwards's spiritual journey, has been very helpful in growing my love for

God and good character. The university's dedication to building a transformative community has

not only made my academic experience better, but it has also set me on a path to pursue faith and

ethics for the rest of my life. I'm thankful for how this community has had a big effect on my

spiritual growth and the development of traits that will last long after I graduate from college.

Works consulted

Holmes, Arthur F. "College as Community." The Idea of a Christian College, Wm. B. Eerdmans

Publishing, 1987.
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Edwards, Jonathan. "Personal Narrative." Learning the Good Life: Wisdom from the Great

Hearts and Minds that Came Before, edited by Jessica Hooten Wilson and Jacob Stratman,

Zondervan Academic, 2022.