In society today, we are bombarded with messages that suggest that our morality is driven by anything but the Bible. Indeed, turn on the television and images which are antithetical to Christ's word are everywhere, open the pages of a textbook and you will see pages upon pages of secular explanations of the existence of mankind; however, Matt Slick author of "What is a Christian Worldview? And Why Do We Need One?" warns us not to despair and that things are actually looking up for Christians. In fact, more people today derive his/her morals from God than did three hundred years ago. For example, in the 1700's, less than 20% of the American population went to church where now it is above 50% of the population (Slick). At this rate, in another 500 years, we will have attained a 100% participation rate! The Christian conception of life and death and reality derives from Jesus' experience on this Earth and his knowledge of life. In order for us to attain Reality, we must therefore have faith in Jesus since our reality is embedded in the hope of an eternal human existence in God. Within our reality is a representation of Jesus' spiritual will to live and the power to endure and to suffer. It is from this awareness or sense of religious duty that personal love can arise; and, additionally, it is from man's understanding of Jesus' experiences that allows the Christian an understanding of Reality in the True sense of the word (Vanderwal, 2005).

From going through the process of defining the foregoing virtues and placing them in context with Cosgrove's message to allow for learning to be a part of faith, I now have come to a greater understanding that I do not have to choose to be learned or to be faithful...

It is no longer an "either/or" proposition. Indeed, with the understanding that with faith in God and Jesus Christ comes a foundation and a lens from which I can then gather information and begin to understand the world without having to compartmentalize my experiences because after all, all of my experience is seen through the lens of one whom believes. This process has definitely provided a clearer understanding of the following scripture from Corinthians:
"I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind." --1 Cor. 14:15

Indeed, this is as it was intended: for faith and spirit to be connected with mind and knowledge.

References

Cosgrove, M.P. (2006). Foundations of Christian thought: faith, learning, and the Christian worldview. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.

Gleghorn, M. (n.d.). An Exploration of Religious Knowledge:: Michael Gleghorn. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from http://www.michaelgleghorn.com/artExplorReligKnowledge.php

Slick, M. (n.d.). What is a Christian World View and Why do Christians Need One? What is a Christian World View and Why do Christians Need One? Retrieved from Http://www.carm.org/christianity/christian-issues/what-christian-world-view-and-why-do-christians-need-one.

Valk, J. (2007). Plural public schooling: religion, worldviews and moral education. British Journal of Religious Education, 29(3), 273-285. doi:10.1080/01416200701479661

Vanderwal. (2005, January 5). Carlson's Chronicles. Retrieved from http://radio-weblogs.com/0111165/categories/newsAnalysisAndCommentary/