David Pettegrew

Nine Messiah students from the history and art departments along with Assistant Professor of History David Pettegrew are digging up pieces of the past, literally. The group, as part of the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeological Project, is in Cyprus, taking part in a three-week archaeological dig.  The dig is part of a growing trend of utilizing archaeology as a service to communities.

Time Travel

The team is working on three sites off the south coast of Cyprus excavating an area that dates back to the Late Bronze Age (1200 BC), Classical period (480 BC-330 BC), and the Late Roman period (AD 330-AD 650).  Combined, the coastline is a historical refuge for Cyprus’ role in economic, political, and cultural relationships with other areas in the ancient Mediterranean.

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Genteel scholar opens spirited discourse on America’s religious identity

Early reactions to Richard Hughes’ new book, Christian America and the Kingdom of God (University of Illinois Press, summer 2009) may well ignite a blaze of scrutiny from scholars, fundamentalists, and even some more liberal-thinking Christians, which is exactly what Hughes expects, and why he teaches at Messiah College—a place where discourse and constructive debate reflect the College’s commitment to the unrestrained exploration of ideas
“Christian colleges and universities are a richly diverse group, yet there is no college anywhere in America like Messiah College,” shares Hughes, whose welcome of dissenting voices seem to symbolize his—and the College’s—passion for intellectual conversation. “I expect that there will be people upset by my conclusions, maybe even some on campus,” he says. “But the beauty of Messiah is that we recognize and embrace how fractured we are—we have so many different perspectives, yet we are all rooted in a common commitment to the Christian faith on the one hand, and a common commitment to the life of the mind, on the other.”

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The national presidential campaign is in full swing, amid much debate, airing of closely-held ideals, and attempts to sway public opinion. Messiah College views this often polarized atmosphere as an opportunity to live out an important part of the College’s mission: “…to educate men and women toward maturity…in preparation for lives of…reconciliation in church and society.” During the College-sponsored Civil Dialogue Focus Week, Messiah’s Office of Student Affairs is encouraging students, faculty, and staff to seek common ground and engage in hospitable conversation on controversial topics. (more…)