Throughout history it often has been said that the process of learning begins with a sense of wonder/awe. It also commonly has been understood that the goal of learning is not merely the acquisition of information but the development of wisdom. In this seminar we will examine what it means to have a sense of wonder and how we can cultivate such wonder in our students. We also will discuss what it means to aim all learning toward the development of wisdom and how we can foster a love of wisdom in our students. Particular attention
will be paid to what it means to be a lover of wisdom (i.e. philosopher) within a Christian framework that acknowledges wisdom as beginning with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10).
David Diener
Dr. David Diener began his formal post-secondary education at Wheaton College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Ancient Languages. After putting his philosophical training to work by building custom cabinets and doing high-end finish carpentry for an Amish company, he moved with his wife to Bogotá, Colombia, where they served as missionaries for three years at a Christian international school. He then a ended graduate school at Indiana University where he earned a M.A. in Philosophy, a M.S. in History and Philosophy of Education, and a dual Ph.D. in Philosophy and Philosophy of Education. A er teaching for one year at The Stony Brook School on Long Island he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he serves as Head of Upper Schools at Covenant Classical School. He also teaches philosophy courses for Taylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as an Adjunct Professor. The Dieners have four wonderful children and are passionate about classical Christian education and the impact it can have on the church, our society, and the world.
