Biola University

{{christianity}}

'''Biola University''' (founded as the '''B'''ible '''I'''nstitute '''O'''f '''L'''os '''A'''ngeles) is a [[conservative]] [[evangelical]] [[Christian]] university located in La Mirada, [[California]] and is arguably 
only
 best known for being the main haunt of [[Christian apologetics|"professional philosopher"]] [[William Lane Craig]].

Biola University maintains a doctrine of [[Biblical inerrancy]]. Biola's doctrinal statement further amplifies a conservative [[creationist]] doctrine, and though not overtly [[homophobic]], implicitly condemns [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/about/doctrinal-statement Biola University Doctrinal Statement.] biola.edu. Retrieved on 15 October 2015.</ref> As a final guarantee of strict adherence to its theological worldview, the university requires every faculty member, when first hired and again upon application for tenure, to submit their understanding of and complete agreement with each item of the doctrinal and teaching statements to the Talbot School of Theology for evaluation.

Biola offers 40 undergraduate degrees, and master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. The school is fully accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools Senior College and University Commission and other accreditation authorities.<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/about/accreditation-affiliation Biola University Accreditation and Affiliation.] biola.edu. Retrieved on 15 October 2015.</ref>

All Biola students are required to take 30 credit hours of [[Bible]] studies.<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/undergrad/academics/bible Biola University Bble courses.] biola.edu. Retrieved on 15 October 2015.</ref>

==Science, hallelujah!==
In practice, Biola's adherence to biblical literalism means that its various degrees are all prefaced with some version of the phrase "being studied from a biblical perspective", meaning that the creationist [[Dog whistle politics|dog whistles]] become rather obvious in, for instance, its biology major:
{{Quotebox|"As a biological science major, you will develop a basic competence and knowledge of living organisms and vital processes in the allied sciences such as zoology, botany, physiology, genetics, ecology, nutrition, biochemistry and immunology from a Biblical perspective."<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/biological-science-bs Biological Science, B.S.]. Retrieved on 23 December 2015.</ref>}}
The creationist profile becomes even more obvious in the description of Biola's program for secondary instruction in biology where two of the four bullet points defining what competencies a student need to demonstrate beyond, you know, ''actual biology'' are:
{{Quotebox|"An ability to integrate known biological facts with scriptural principles"}} as well as 
{{Quotebox|"An ability to discuss theories of origins and evolution within the context of a Scriptural view of creation"<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/biological-science-secondary-instruction-bs Biological Science: Secondary Instruction, B.S.]. Retrieved on 23 December 2015.</ref>}}

==Humanities, aka theology & apologetics in various flavors==
If you thought Biola force-fitted only the natural [[science]]s into their biblical literalism, nil desperandum. History is of course just a way to "examine important religious, social, political and economic movements of human history, and aim to reveal God's dependability and redemption purposes throughout the world."<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/history-ba History, B.A.]. Retrieved on 23 December 2015.</ref> A very, eh, specific point that calls for "Ethical issues within Supreme Court cases" is, considering the rest of Biola's ideology, extremely likely to refer to ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' (anyone want to bet what Biola's view on [[abortion]] is...?) and, once again, history is apparently mainly a means to an [[apologetics|apologetic]]/missionary end ("[t]he value of history to a Christian worldview"), while another "highlight" of Biola's B.A. in history wanders into outright [[theology]] ("[d]octrines of God with reference to history of Christian theology").

Similarly, and fitting very well with William Lane Craig's views on knowledge in general,<ref group=note>"I think Martin Luther correctly distinguished between what he called the magisterial and ministerial uses of reason. The magisterial use of reason occurs when reason stands over and above the gospel like a magistrate and judges it on the basis of argument and evidence. The ministerial use of reason occurs when reason submits to and serves the gospel.... Should a conflict arise between the witness of the Holy Spirit to the fundamental truth of the Christian faith and beliefs based on argument and evidence, then it is the former which must take precedence over the latter." William Lane Craig, ''Reasonable Faith'' (1994), p. 36 as quoted in Chris Hallquist's [http://infidels.org/library/modern/chris_hallquist/faith.html review] of the book on [[Internet Infidels]].</ref> the only reason Biola can apparently see for studying [[Islam]] is one that emphasises "Islamic theology and culture, Middle Eastern history and Christian theology of mission. The program equips men and women to make disciples among Muslims and impact the Islamic world for the Lord Jesus Christ."<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/islamic-studies-minor Islamic Studies, Minor]. Retrieved on 23 December 2015.</ref> Remember youngsters, you only study these [[Heresy|false doctrines]] so [[Missionary|you can make]] the [[heathen]]s see the errors of their ways and [[Salvation|accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior]], hallelujah!

That Biola's philosophy programmes are all located either within its Talbot School of Theology or at its Center for Christian Thought,<ref>[http://www.biola.edu/philosophy-ba Philosophy, B.A.] Retrieved on 23 December 2015.</ref> rather than in a separate humanities programme, clearly indicates which concern is the overriding one, i.e. to give "a broad understanding of how to effectively use intellectual argumentation from a Christian worldview."<ref group=note>
Again fitting well with William Lane Craig's views, the only use of philosophy is to craft a more convincing apologetic [[Public relations|sales pitch]].
</ref>
Also, it's apparently considered very important that philosophy students at Biola focus "on history and philosophies of [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] and [[Thomas Aquinas|Aquinas]]" as well as on a "[s]urvey of the wisdom traditions [[WWJD|with focus on Jesus' teachings]]", showing how [[Appeal to authority#Outdated authorities|cutting edge]] Biola's (and Craig's) philosophy is.

===Messianic Judaism===

Biola University offers graduate level programs in Messianic Judaism studies through their Charles L. Feinberg Center in New York City. The 
Charles L. Feinberg Center is part of the Talbot School of Theology. Education programs are a certificate and Master of Divinity concentration in Messianic Judaism studies. <ref>[https://www.biola.edu/talbot/admissions/grad#theology-ministry-requirements ], Retrieved on December 8, 2022.</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.biola.edu Official website]

==Notes==
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==References==
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{{Stub|Christianity}}
[[Category:California]]

Categories: California