The point here is to say that there is freedom of inquiry at a Christian liberal arts institution in the Reformed tradition, so long as we take seriously the commitment that our views remain within the boundaries of biblical inerrancy and are built on the framework of all truth being God’s truth

The following letter was provided to The Aquila Report by the Chief Communications Officer, Cliff Smith

To: Erskine Board members

From: Max Bolin, Secretary

Date: June 2, 2012

Subject: Statement from John Basie

Chairman Joe Patrick was contacted by Board member John Basie regarding a theological/philosophical issue that has recently received some attention. John had prepared a statement that he thought would be of value to Board members. Joe consulted with several Board members regarding the matter and then asked that I distribute it to you.

The following statement is from Board member John Basie:

Joe,

Recent articles on the internet have attempted to raise questions about Dr. David Norman’s commitment to a view of the human person that is biblically sound and within the boundaries of the Westminster Confession of Faith. David and I have both studied, at the graduate level, the subdiscipline of philosophy known as philosophy of mind, in which the relationship of the body to the soul is a central question. While I took graduate coursework on the subject, David completed an entire dissertation on it.

Dr. Norman has received some pushback on his view due to the fact that his comprehensive realist position is not the most widely accepted among evangelical theologians and philosophers, and, in some significant ways, swims against the tide of the more popular view among evangelicals known as substance dualism.

However, having had several meaningful discussions on this very topic with him since taking office, as well as reading relevant portions of his doctoral dissertation, I am convinced his view is a carefully thought through and respectable one, and is both biblically faithful and within the bounds of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Having studied much of the same material as Dr. Norman on these questions, my own view differs from his in some important ways (I am a substance dualist), but such is the nature of academic inquiry. The point here is to say that there is freedom of inquiry at a Christian liberal arts institution in the Reformed tradition, so long as we take seriously the commitment that our views remain within the boundaries of biblical inerrancy and are built on the framework of all truth being God’s truth. I am convinced Dr. Norman has done that, and I stand firmly behind him during this important time in the life of Erskine College and Seminary.

Editor’s Note:  The following biographical information is taken from Dr. Basie’s on-line C.V.

Education:

– Baylor University, Ph.D., Church-State Studies; intersection of religion, politics, & society 2000 – 2009

– Biola University M.A., Philosophy & Ethics 1997 – 1999

– Focus Leadership Institute Diploma, Ethics, Public Policy, & Leadership 1996 – 1996

– Erskine College B.A., Psychology & Christian Education 1992 – 1996

Work History:

Currently an Affiliated Scholar at The John Jay Institute, Director at IMPACT 360, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Union University.  He provides leadership and integration for all operational, academic and student life programs for IMPACT 360, a one-year academic program focusing on biblical worldview, leadership and vocational understanding for college-bound high school graduates. IMPACT 360 is affiliated with Chick-fil-A, Inc. and Union University

Previously Dr. Basie worked as

–  Dean of Enrollment Management/Director of Admissions at Columbia International University

–  Director of Admissions and Student Life at Witherspoon Fellowship at Family Research Council (Washington DC)

–  Research Assistant, Institute for Faith & Learning at Baylor University

[Editor’s note: Original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]