Lenoir-Rhyne's philosophy department, from which I was graduated 25 years ago, provided me at least two wonderful gifts that I continue to use to this day. One, a general sense of the intellectual history of the West from the pre-Socratic era until the present. But more importantly, L-R's philosophy department provided me tools for critical thinking and analysis. Indeed, information gleened from any text -- whether theological, philosophical, political, etc. -- is only as good as the questions one ask of it. L-R's philosophy major taught me much about how to ask questions, how to pause, reflect, and consider alternative perspectives. Such skills will serve a graduate student or life-long learner well, whatever the field one later enters. And perhaps best of all, I remember frequently a statement to me by my advisor when I was an undergraduate: One of the most important pursuits in life is not philosophical insight, or even knowledge, but rather, wisdom. God blessed me with many gifts from the philosophy faculty and curriculum when I was a student in the L-R philosophy department, and now, as the college's pastor, I see similar and even greater riches being handed down to our current students today.

Rev. Andrew Weisner
Lenoir-Rhyne College Pastor
Class of 1979
3/16/05