August 11 & 12, 2023
In the last few centuries, the intellectual world has slowly but steadily abandoned Christianity, offering alternate secular perspectives to life’s most important questions. As a result, Christian educators have become suspicious of “academia” and often seek to protect children from secular learning. In this conference, we will explore the dual goals of pursuing learning and promoting faith. How do we foster faith, encourage an interest in truth, model confidence and humility, and avoid rebellion—all while embedded in a hostile world? Because truth is faith’s greatest ally, we can embrace open and honest inquiry, trusting God to turn hearts to Him.
Confirmed Speakers / Workshop Leaders
Susan Wise Bauer
Author & Owner of the Well-Trained Mind Academy
Talk: “Safe Education and Dangerous Ideas”
Workshop: “Dangerous Ideas: Case Studies”
Jennifer Courtney
Classical Conversations
Talk: “In the Beginning Was the Word: Building Faith through Latin Grammar”
Workshop: “Form, Freedom, and Faith: Reading Christian Poetry”
Andrea Lipinski
CiRCE Institute
Talk: “Mythos and Eros: Practices that Support Academic Studies and Faith”
Workshop: “Logocentrism within Fairy Tales”
Charley Dewberry
Gutenberg College
Workshop: “Practicing Close Reading: The Parables of Jesus”
Young Philosophers Live!
A Saturday event for teens who are in town during this year’s Education Conference
“Friendship in Aristotle”
Young Philosophers Live will combine the best of two worlds: the great outdoors and thoughtful discussion. After breakfast at the conference on Saturday, we will take a short drive to either Hendricks Park or Spencer’s Butte, depending on how ambitious we feel. We’ll walk around the gorgeous arboretum or hike to the top of the local landmark and then go to Gutenberg for lunch. After lunch, we’ll discuss friendship, starting with Aristotle’s take on the nature and kinds of interpersonal relationships and then letting our conversation unfold naturally. We will return to the conference in time for Eliot Grasso’s talk, “Love and Fear in Faithful Learning,” at 2:45 PM.
This special edition of Young Philosophers is open to all teens. It will be free to conference attendees. The cost to non-attendees is $15.00.
Conference Details
When
Friday, August 11
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. Banquet is at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 12
Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m. Speaker Q&A is at 4:00 p.m.
Where
University Fellowship Church
1855 Cal Young Road
Eugene, OR 97401
university-fellowship.com
Map
Costs
(Cost includes lunch both days, breakfast Saturday, lots of snacks and coffee.)
Early registration, by July 21, 2023:
Full conference: $125 (Individual); $215 (Family); $60 (Student)
Groups: $119 each (5 or more); $100 each (10 or more); $75 each (20 or more)
Volunteers: $87.50 (3 hours); $31.25 (8 hours; 5 remaining)
Registration after July 21, 2023:
Full conference: $155 (Individual); $265 (Family); $75 (Student)
Groups: $147 each (5 or more); $124 each (10 or more); $93 each (20 or more)
Volunteers: $108.50 (3 hours); $39 (8 hours)
Friday Night Banquet:
$30 (Individual); $45 (Family)
Enjoy live jazz (instrumental) and a Great Books “raffle.”
Contact Us
Please contact the office at office@gutenberg.edu if you are interested in learning more about:
- Volunteer opportunities and discounts
- Event sponsorship opportunities
- Lodging options
- Professional development credits
Conference Schedule
Friday, August 11th
| 8:00 am | Registration Opens |
| 9:00 am | Welcome & Introduction |
| 9:15 am | Session 1, Chris Swanson: “What We Want for Our Kids” |
| 10:15 am | Break |
| 10:30 am | Session 2, Andrea Lipinski: “Mythos and Eros: Practices that Support Academic Studies and Faith” |
| 11:45 am | Lunch |
| 12:45 pm | Introduction to Discussion |
| 1:00 pm | Session 3, Discussion on 1st Reading: “What Is Enlightenment?” by Immanuel Kant |
| 2:30 pm | Break |
| 2:45 pm | Session 4, Wes Callihan: “The Early Church on Classical Education” |
| 3:45 pm | Break |
| 4:00 pm | Session 5, Workshops: Susan Wise Bauer: “Dangerous Ideas: Case Studies” Jennifer Courtney: “Form, Freedom, and Faith: Reading Christian Poetry” Charley Dewberry: “Practicing Close Reading: The Parables of Jesus” Andrea Lipinski: “Logocentrism within Fairy Tales” |
| 5:30 pm | Banquet (ticket required) |
| 7:30 pm | Session 6 (Keynote Address), Susan Wise Bauer: “Safe Education and Dangerous Ideas” |
Saturday, August 12th
| 8:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am | Welcome (Young Philosophers convene for “Young Philosophers Live.”) |
| 9:15 am | Session 7, Jennifer Courtney: “In the Beginning Was the Word: Building Faith through Latin Grammar” |
| 10:15 am | Break |
| 10:30 am | Session 8, Workshops: Susan Wise Bauer: “Dangerous Ideas: Case Studies” Jennifer Courtney: “Form, Freedom, and Faith: Reading Christian Poetry” Charley Dewberry: “Practicing Close Reading: The Parables of Jesus” Andrea Lipinski: “Logocentrism within Fairy Tales” |
| 11:45 am | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm | Session 9, Discussion on 2nd Reading: “Learning in War-Time” by C.S. Lewis |
| 2:30 pm | Break |
| 2:45 pm | Session 10, Eliot Grasso: “Love and Fear in Faithful Learning” |
| 3:45 pm | Break |
| 4:00 pm | Session 11, Speaker Q&A |
Previous Conferences:
2022 Education Conference: Learning for Life
Guest speakers: Amanda Butler, Scott Postma, Andrew Pudewa, Kathryn Smith, and Andrew Zwerneman.
2021 Education Conference: The Art of Learning
Guest speakers: Leigh Bortins, David & Crystal Downing, Nancy Pearcey, Andrew Pudewa, John Seel, Wes Callihan, Diane Gray, Scott Postma, and Jon Robertson