Longtime Whitworth communications professor publishes book on Christianity, light and sight
February 10, 2017
Gordon Jackson, who retired in 2015 after 32 years as a communications professor at Whitworth University, recently published a new book, Be Thou My Vision: Light, Sight, and the Christian Faith (published by Crosslink). In it, Jackson explores the concepts of light and sight, and the many Bible references that refer to these two phenomena. Be Thou My Vision is his twelfth book.
"I was initially fascinated by the numerous references in the Bible to light, which is central to the creation story in Genesis, and of course to our very existence,” Jackson says. “As I looked closer, I saw that these references -- and those to sight -- were even more plentiful than I had realized. It became obvious that God clearly takes the concepts of light and sight seriously, so I thought I should, too."
By examining light and sight through a Christian lens, Jackson’s book brings together intellectual inquiry and faith, which is an integration that Whitworth encourages.
"My hope is that readers will benefit from the numerous spiritual insights that the book offers into the Bible's treatment of light and sight -- either as individual readers or in a group-Bible-study setting," Jackson says.
Jackson holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University, an M.A. from Wheaton College, and a B.A. from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is the author of numerous books, with a special emphasis on quotation collections, including Christians, Free Expression, and the Common Good: Getting Beyond the Censorship Impulse (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015); Jesus Does Stand Up, and Other Satires: Parables, Pictures and Parodies for Today’s Church (Wipf and Stock, 2010); and The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful And Other Quotes for the Thoughtful Traveler (2009).
Jackson has served as an ombudsman and a consultant for The Spokesman-Review, and is a frequent speaker on the media and related issues. He has also consulted on communications issues with Christian organizations in Egypt, Lebanon, Nigeria and Uganda. And each April, Whitworth hosts the Gordon S. Jackson Conference in Media Law and Ethics, named in his honor.
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Gordon S. Jackson, gjackson@whitworth.edu
Lauren Clark Hughes, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or lclark@whitworth.edu.
"I was initially fascinated by the numerous references in the Bible to light, which is central to the creation story in Genesis, and of course to our very existence,” Jackson says. “As I looked closer, I saw that these references -- and those to sight -- were even more plentiful than I had realized. It became obvious that God clearly takes the concepts of light and sight seriously, so I thought I should, too."
By examining light and sight through a Christian lens, Jackson’s book brings together intellectual inquiry and faith, which is an integration that Whitworth encourages.
"My hope is that readers will benefit from the numerous spiritual insights that the book offers into the Bible's treatment of light and sight -- either as individual readers or in a group-Bible-study setting," Jackson says.
Jackson holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University, an M.A. from Wheaton College, and a B.A. from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is the author of numerous books, with a special emphasis on quotation collections, including Christians, Free Expression, and the Common Good: Getting Beyond the Censorship Impulse (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015); Jesus Does Stand Up, and Other Satires: Parables, Pictures and Parodies for Today’s Church (Wipf and Stock, 2010); and The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful And Other Quotes for the Thoughtful Traveler (2009).
Jackson has served as an ombudsman and a consultant for The Spokesman-Review, and is a frequent speaker on the media and related issues. He has also consulted on communications issues with Christian organizations in Egypt, Lebanon, Nigeria and Uganda. And each April, Whitworth hosts the Gordon S. Jackson Conference in Media Law and Ethics, named in his honor.
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Gordon S. Jackson, gjackson@whitworth.edu
Lauren Clark Hughes, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or lclark@whitworth.edu.
