Faith and Education

Each year the University Grant Committee hands our three Teaching Awards to the academic staff in the universities in Hong Kong.  Sometimes the award is given to an individual, sometimes it is given to a team, represented by its leader.  This year, all three awardees are Christians.  One of the three is a Protestant while a second is a Catholic.  Among the three, two explicitly acknowledged God in their short acceptance speech.  

It is said that only 5% of the general population in Hong Kong are Christians. But it is believed that the percentage among academics is much higher.   In this case, among the UGC teaching awardees, it is 100%.  

Why are so many Christians teachers?  And why are so many good teachers Christians?  Is it possible that this is much in common between faith and education?  I suppose, to be a teacher, to be involved in education, one has to have faith in human nature.  At least, one has to believe in the potential of a person to be educated.  And faith in God can be a strong reason for faith in human beings.  

On the other hand, education can be a way to inform and nurture faith.  Some might even go so far to say that education provides the solid foundation for a strong, educated  faith.