In addition to being an institution for classical education, Patrick Henry College is committed to keeping the workings of the college rooted in Biblical principles. That means that every class, every lecture, and every piece of homework is founded on the understanding that what the Bible says is true. It’s one of the three things that we believe makes PHC unique and unlike any other college in the United States. A biblical understanding frames the education at Patrick Henry College.
But it does more than that as well.
In addition to keeping its mission built on the gospel, the college and its faculty want to ensure that the graduates that come out of Patrick Henry College can have an assurance in their beliefs beyond the classroom. That’s why, as a part of the classical core, every student at PHC takes a class called “The Principles of Biblical Reasoning,” or, as it’s more commonly called, “PBR.”
The purpose behind PBR comes from the instruction left behind by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:15 in his famous instruction to Christians everywhere. The verse reads: “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Designed to give students good arguments for the faith and challenging them to seriously consider their preconceptions of Christianity, PBR forces students to think critically about what a defense of the faith looks like in a modern-day United States. Christians in the professional world (and especially Washington D.C.) expect to brush up against ideologies that will actively attempt to tear down a Biblical understanding of how the world works.
Students will study apologetics, theological principles, and learn arguments against and for the faith that they may encounter post-graduation.
From questions of policy to personal morality, a Christian in modern day United States must prepare themselves to understand what those attacks might look like and have an answer ready to reply.
At Patrick Henry College, we want to ensure that we have given our students the leg up in a conversation like that. We believe that our students—and active Christian citizens—must be prepared for just such a time as this.
To learn more about how Patrick Henry College prepares its students to thrive Biblically, click below to learn about spiritual development at PHC!
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