College Union

In the last edition of virtues and choices I posted student papers from a class I teach on the Asbury Wilmore campus titled Moral Development. One of the early assignments in the class asks students to write a short story that exemplifies the main character as a person of moral maturity. Beneath the assignment is the assumption that we all hold tacit images that guide our moral judgment and involvement, but which may not be in our immediate consciousness.

Once these stories are written there can be interesting questions to process: How many people chose narratives of same gendered moral exemplars and is identification an important part of moral formation? Were there cultural differences in the values being heralded in these moral exemplars? Were the majority of stories written about dramatic and sacrificial moral events or did people focus on lives that reflect character traits fashioned in the daily choices to serve other human beings? Were the moral heroes predominmantly familiy members, people in ministry, anonymous, etc?

In this months version of Virtues and Choices one additional student paper is posted. I thought it was especially intriguing because it admits to temptation but yet promotes a challenge to many young adults view of intimacy in favor of faithful love. Is this an image of virtue that is rarely found today? As you read this and refer to earlier stories posted from this class, consider the people and events that may have shaped your moral formation and what may guide this convictional base in you.

Next, the excerpt from Stanley Jones’ book Mastery declares that in giving the Holy Spirit to all people and not just to the those of special privilege, a basis is established for revolutional equality. If God made no distinction between classes, races, or gender in the giving of His greatest gifts, how can we withhold lesser privileges and positions?

Dr. Chris Kiesling, Associate Professor of Human Development and Christian Discipleship, Asbury Theological Seminary chris_kiesling@asburyseminary.edu