Developing a Biblical Worldview in the Study

of Computer Information Systems

Kevin Gorman, Ph.D.

In higher education, a Christian college is distinguished by its pursuit of the integration of faith and learning. Two themes predominate the goals of Christian colleges. These are:

1. that students will develop a Christian worldview and paradigm that effectively integrates their faith and their education

2. that graduates will effectively integrate their faith and practice as professionals.

Faith/learning integration occurs when a Christian worldview controls, shapes, and inspires the minds and hearts of both faculty and students as they pursue achieving all other educational objectives. These objectives include communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, computer information systems skills, interpersonal and team skills, and especially competency in their academic major.

For each academic discipline, a Christian biblical worldview embraces useful and effective themes that can be developed in the study of the academic discipline. These themes include:

1. The sovereignty of God over all creation and knowledge;

2. A lifestyle of Christian service to others an the community;

3. The recognition of the intrinsic worth of self and all persons;

4. A genuine critical openness to the ideas and beliefs of others;

5. The formation of values and ethical reasoning;

6. An appreciation for what is beautiful, true and good in the arts and literature;

7. A respect for and attitude of stewardship toward the whole of creation;

8. An understanding of the past and its interconnectedness with the present and future.

In Mathematics and Science, a major faith/learning integration theme is God’s creative and providential power (#1 above) as evidenced by the divine laws of nature and science “discovered” by man. Related to this theme is the worth of human nature and an appreciation of what is beautiful, true and good (#3 and #6 above).

In the application of Mathematics and Science in the business world, other biblical worldview themes can be developed. These would include the formation of values and ethical reasoning (#5). This is particularly apparent with the recent corporate scandals involving Enron, Worldcom, and others. Such behavior virtually always leads to the downfall of the enterprise, thus reinforcing the Christian biblical worldview tenets of the past and its interconnectedness with the present and future (#8) and the sovereignty of God over all creation and knowledge (#1). Besides examples of negative ethical behavior leading to business ruin and disgrace, the business world also exhibits individuals and firms whose high ethical standards have contributed to business success and respect. Positive examples are at least as important as negative ones in the formation of values and ethical reasoning.

Another key Christian biblical worldview theme of the Computer Information Systems discipline is stewardship (#7). As God’s servants, we are to use resources placed in our care for His honor and glory. As illustrated in The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), those who make wise use of the resources placed in their care are rewarded with more, while those who do not are punished and lose even what little they have.

In order to integrate faith and learning, an educator must love his/her subject, recognizing that “all truth is God’s truth” and love the students, recognizing that each is made “in the image and likeness of God”. My goal in participating in the workshop is to pursue aiding students to develop a biblical worldview in the study of Computer Information Systems. I will share on ways I have applied biblical worldview themes in teaching quantitative and computer courses. I hope to gain further insights from other participants on how to do this more effectively.