Faculty/Staff
Arts and Humanities

Dr. Kenneth Christiansen,
Professor of Religion and Sociology

Bio
Dr. Kenneth Edward Christiansen is currently Professor of Religion and Sociology and Assistant Coordinator of the Design for Leadership. He is also the Editor of the McMaster Journal. He has been a member of the Defiance College faculty since 1974.

Dr. Christiansen's earned degrees include a B.A. from Valparaiso University, 1965, with majors in History and German and a minor in mathematics; an M.Th. (Theology) substantially completed in 1968 (awarded in 1970), and D.Mn. (Ethics and Society) 1970, both from the University of Chicago Divinity School. He is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.

Dr. Christiansen is the author of Dignity (New York: Friendship Press, 1967, 1969, 1970), a simulation game about civil rights issues in the 1960s with implications for urban ministry. He also edited and published The United Church of Christ National Urban Network News, 1994-2001. He has presented academic papers on several issues related to social and institutional change, and on program development in relation to Interdisciplinary Humanities. Courses he has taught include: Global Civilization, Ethics for Leadership, Ethics and Morals, Approaches to Religion, Eastern Religions, Forming One's Faith, Death and Dying, and Cultural Diversity.

Dr. Christiansen is a family man with two sons, two daughters in law, two granddaughters, and one grandson. He has hobbies of photography, woodwork, and electronics generally.
Here are some thoughts from Dr. Christiansen about his goals in teaching:

"Change is one of the biggest realities of life. We all depend on our environment and daily associations to be somewhat predictable. When change occurs, or sometimes just threatens, we react very strongly.

"Religious faith can give us courage and direction as we approach life in all its dimensions. This includes not only study of the depths and patterns of faith, but also of the depths and patterns of reality. We can learn much from the life experience of others.

"Philosophical ethics, business ethics, and the social sciences all have strong empirical roots. In the contemplation of action and decision-making, we need to have as much clear information as possible about the situations we face. We also need clarity about our own values and how we can apply them.

"I hope through my teaching to help empower students to gain the basic skills, knowledge and courage to navigate the challenges of life."

Contact
Phone:419-783-2455
e-mail: chrstnsn@defiance.edu