Rationalism assumes, in the second place, that reason is unimpaired. Marx showed us as much in the sphere of economics. So have contemporary sociologists of knowledge with their focus on the place of the reasoner's social location. And before all of this so did the pastoral counsel of patristic writers. Reason, together with the rest of the creation, has not been spared the ravages of the Fall.
Reason needs the corrective of the gospel.
Grace frees reason from reason's diverse bondages to self-interest in the diverse contexts of race, class, money, gender, etc. To put it most concisely, the gospel releases reason from reason's captivity to idolatry. The Christian educational institution has a witness here to render the world of education. This witness must never be blunted or hidden or minimized. While we are speaking of the role of the Christian educational institution with respect to the world of learning I should like to make a plea for the richest humanism that has been part of higher education ever since the Renaissance.