Quaker Elements: Elements Today
Haverford College distinguishes itself as an institution committed to student and faculty collaboration, innovative curricular programs, and intellectual community. How is Haverford's approach to a rigorous liberal arts education invigorated by the Quaker way of pursuing truth? This is an open question that invites vigorous discussion. One starting point is the way in which Quakerism and liberal arts education both see the pursuit of new insights as being relentless. Truth is contestable–it can be expected to continually evolve. And the process of discovery is not constrained by any established authority.
In 1888, as today, the emphasis is on letting one's life speak, seeking to eliminate any discrepancy between word and deed. The point is not to "preach" with empty words, but to ensure that one's entire life is a message of integrity.
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