2010 Summer Institute • August 1-6
Where We Came From
Where We Are
Where We’re Going
We all love America’s Founding Fathers. But what did they really say? Does their plan still work? Join us at the 2010 Summer Institute to discuss the history and future of American democracy.
Modeled after Gutenberg College’s “Great Books” approach to education, small group discussion of historical, contemporary, and biblical authors is the heart of the Summer Institute. (See schedule below.) Reading materials will be sent to participants after they register.
This year’s Great Books topics:
- Monday: Purpose of Life
Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Reading: Part II, Book 5, Chapter 4, “Rebellion” and Chapter 5, “The Grand Inquisitor”; and all of Book 6, “The Russian Monk” from The Brothers Karamazov - Tuesday: Founding Fathers’ Intent: Representative versus Radical Democracy
Author: James Madison (under the pseudonym “Publius”)
Reading: Numbers 10 and 51 of The Federalist Papers - Wednesday: Nature of Individualism
Author: F. A. Hayek
Reading: Chapter 1, “Individualism: True and False,” from Individualism and Economic Order - Thursday: Complications of Modern Democracy
Author: Alexis de Tocqueville
Reading: Book 4 of Democracy in America - Friday: Solutions/Conclusions
Author: Jacques Ellul
Reading: Chapter 6, “Political Solutions,” and Chapter 7, “Depolitization and Tensions,” from The Political Illusion
Corresponding Bible topics:
(Click here for a PDF of all the Bible readings and associated study questions.)
- Monday: Purpose of Life/Role of Tension, Conflict, and Suffering
- Tuesday: Political Equality and Biblical Equality
- Wednesday: Bible and Human Freedom, Responsibility, and Moral Maturity
- Thursday: Democracy and Human Depravity
- Friday: God’s View of Institutions: Is There a Biblical Mandate?
Daily lectures by Gutenberg faculty will help put the topics and readings in perspective. Meals together (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), coffee-and-conversation breaks, and evening activities will provide more time for discussion and fellowship.
The conference begins Sunday evening August 1 with registration check-in and a reception.
COST
(includes reading materials and meals: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners)
- $380—without housing
$220 for a second family member - $550—with housing (limited availability)
$390 for a second family member (limited availability) - $200 for prospective Gutenberg students
$250—with housing (limited availability) - $60—non-refundable reservation deposit required
REGISTRATION & INFORMATION
Please register early to receive reading materials in time to read them before the start of the Institute.
To register and for more information, use the “Contact Us” link in the left column to contact Gutenberg College. More details about the conference will be posted on this website in coming weeks. Check back!
SCHEDULE
Breakfast: 8:15 – 8:45
Morning: 9:00 – 12:00
• 09:00 – 9:20: GB Context Lecture (historical, philosophical, etc.)
• 09:35 – 10:30: Great Book Group Discussion
• 10:45 – 11:45: Great Book Topic Lecture
Lunch: 12:00 – 1:00
Afternoon: 1:15 – 4:00
• 01:15 – 02:00: Biblical Passage Group Discussion
• 02:15 – 02:45: Biblical Topic Lecture
• 03:00 – 04:00: Q & A
Dinner: 6:00 – 7:00