I typed in a fairly long and intricate post earlier today, but when I went to post I was transferred to the hotel's wireless Internet log-in screen, and my text was lost! Gotta hate it when things like that happen. I was describing some of the day's discussions, and now I can't reproduce what I said. *frown*

I shall have to type a new post. We had three sessions today, an hour and a half long each. In the morning we first discussed various characteristics of how the West became rich despite beginning the Middle Ages at a significant disadvantage. Christianity played probably the most important role in the rise of the West, because its conflict with the state made a vacuum of power that allowed nobles and individuals to enter the economic realm and develop their own political power. At the same time, Christianity provided a unifying theme that gathered together the intellectual force of a widely diverse group of peoples. It is this unique combination of autonomy and unity that can only exist in a world based on Christian values. Fascinating stuff, at least to me.

The second morning session handled the role of religion in the West's rise, which, as you can see, we had already begun to discuss. We were able to bring in two more readings for this session, however. The last session of the day, in the afternoon, brought in the influence of law, specifically mercantile law and English common law. In this one, we somehow got off on an interesting side trail about China and the Muslim nations, but that is OK. We were still learning.

Again, as with my summer ISI seminar, I am appreciating more and more the fine education that PHC provides. Hearing professors talk about their students and students talk about their professors, I realize that we at PHC take a lot for granted. At other colleges, people can treat religion very cavalierly. What is more, they may be attending merely to earn a degree, not to learn. This is normal, in fact. At PHC, normalcy is striving to achieve. I love PHC, and I hope God keeps my college focused on Him.  ¶ 6:20 PM