Geneva College

 

 

Esther L. Meek

Esther MeekOffice Phone: 724-847-5232
emeek@geneva.edu
emeek@longingtoknow.com   
Personal Web site: www.longingtoknow.com     

Disciplines/Field of Instruction
  • Philosophy, Humanities, Honors

Degrees Received

  • Ph.D., Philosophy, Temple University, 1985 (Dissertation: Contact with Reality: An Examination of Realism in the Work of Michael Polanyi (Joseph Margolis, supervisor))
  • M.A., Humanities/Philosophy, Western Kentucky University, 1976
  • B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies/Philosophy, Cedarville College, 1975

Courses Taught

  • PHI 100 - Logic
  • PHI 110 - Introduction to Philosophy
  • HUM 303 - Perspectives: Faith, Culture, Identity (3)
  • PHI 305 - Austin and Wittgenstein
  • PHI 306 - Post Modern Philosophers
  • PHI 310 - Christian Understanding of Life
  • PHI 352 - Reformed Epistemology
  • PHI 353 - Philosophy of Science
  • PHI 410 - Senior Seminar
  • PHI 491 - Women Philosophers

Presentations/Publications

Books

  • Longing to Know: The Philosophy of Knowledge for Ordinary People. Chicago: Brazos Press, 2003.
  • Contours of Covenant Epistemology: Conversations On the Way To Knowing, current book project under discussion with Brazos Press.
  • Contact With Reality: Polanyi’s Realism And Its Value For Christian Faith. Paternoster Press, forthcoming.

Website

Articles

Book Reviews

  • Mary Stewart van Leeuwen, Gender and Grace: Love, Work and Parenting in a Changing World. Presbyterion XVII:1 (1991).
  • Mary A. Kassian, The Feminist Gospel: The Movement to Unite Feminism with the Church, Presbyterion XVIII:2 (1992).
  • Christopher Kaiser, Creation and the History of Science, Presbyterion XVIII:1 (1992).
  • Kelly Clark, ed., Philosophers Who Believe, Presbyterion XX:1 (1994).

Popular Books and Articles

Delivered Papers, Presentations, Lectures and Interviews

  • “Michael Polanyi.” Friday Evenings at the Institute (Covenant Seminary), Borders Bookstore (1996).
  • “Helping Kids Think Straight in Crooked Times.”Francis Schaeffer Lectures (Covenant Seminary), The Woodlands, Texas (1997). http://www.soundword.com/l-abri-meek--esther.html
  • “Balancing Personal Meaning and Soccer Practice.” Francis Schaeffer Lectures, The Woodlands, Texas (1997). http://www.soundword.com/l-abri-meek--esther.html
  • “Epistemology.”Advanced Apologetics Course, Covenant Seminary (1997).
  • “Michael Polanyi.” Faith and Science Course, Covenant Seminary (1998, 2002).
  • “‘Recalled to Life’: Contact with Reality,” paper presented to Polanyi Society, Boston, Massachusetts (1999).
  • “Epistemology.”Chesterfield Day School (May 2001).
  • “Evangelical and Contemplative Approaches to God.”Thompson Center Lecture Series(May 2001).
  • “Epistemology.” Spring Retreat, Reformed University Fellowship, Oklahoma University (Spring 2002).
  • “Lesslie Newbigin’s Proper Confidence.”Covenant Theology Course, Covenant Seminary (April 2002).
  • “Covenant Epistemology.” Covenant Seminary Chapel (May 2002).
  • “Learning to See: The Role of Authoritative Guides in Knowing,” paper presented to Polanyi Society, Toronto, Ontario (2002).
  • “Polanyi, Meek, and Longing to Know.”L’Abri Conference (Francis Schaeffer Institute, Covenant Seminary) (August 2002, January 2003, August 2003).
  • “Longing to Know.” Interview with Ken Myers, Mars Hill Audio Journal (Jan./Feb. 2004) (MHT-66.2.1).
  • “Working Implications of the Subsidiary Nature of Worldviews,” Paper delivered at the Midwest Regional Evangelical Theological Society Conference, Lincoln Christian College, March 19, 2004.
  • “Learning to Be: The Role of the Body in Knowing,” lecture for Interdisciplinary Studies class, Truman State University, March 31, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know,” presentation to the Christian Faculty Association, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, April 30, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know”; Scholar in Residence, Ravi Zacharias Ministries, Norcross, GA, June 17-18, 2004.
  • Response panel participant to Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, Faculty Retreat, Geneva College, August 22, 2004.
  • “Learning to See, Longing to Know: The Philosophy of Knowledge for Ordinary People,” Tabletalk at The Woods, A Lecture Series Sponsored by The Office of Faith and Service at William Woods University, Fulton, MO, October 18, 2004.
  • “Answering Cannon’s Volley: Meek’s Reply to Essays on Longing to Know”; paper for the Polanyi Society Meetings, November, 2004, San Antonio, TX, responding to three professional papers also presented at those meetings.
  • “Rekindling the Longing to Know.” Geneva College Convocation, February 2, 2005.
  • ”The Epistemology and the Realism of David Dark’s Apocalyptic: Response to David Dark,” paper delivered at Christian Reflections on Contemporary Culture Conference, Missouri Baptist University, June 19. 2005.
  • “Global Christianity and the Need For a Fresh Epistemological Vision: Response to Philip Jenkins,” paper delivered at Christian Reflections on Contemporary Culture Conference, Missouri Baptist University, June 19. 2005.
  • “Riesman’s Autonomy, Self-differentiation, and Trinitarian Theology of Personhood: Response to Faith and the Common Good, Geneva Faculty Summer Book Club,”June 2005.
  • “Longing to Know: Lecture, discussion, CCO continuing education class with Dr. Brad Frey, May 25, 2005, June 13, 2005.
  • “Longing to Know.” Talk for Geneva College Faculty Luncheon Series, September 5, 2005.
  • Interview with Doug Serven, Common Grounds Online, http://commongroundsonline.typepad.com/common_grounds_online
    /2005/10/by_doug_serven_.html
  • “Longing to Know: Epistemology for Ordinary People.” Jubilee 2006, the Annual Conference of the Coalition for Christian Outreach, February 25, 2006.
  • “Inviting the Real: Epistemological Etiquette.” Jubilee 2006, the Annual Conference of the Coalition for Christian Outreach, February 25, 2006.
  • “Proposing Covenant Epistemology: Response to Frazier’s ‘Considering the Tie that Binds.’” Paper prepared for presentation to the Geneva College Board of Trustees, April 26, 2006.
  • “Longing to Know,” “Covenant Epistemology,” and “Inviting the Real,” University Honors Program Faculty Student Weekend Retreat, Dallas Baptist University, October, 2006.
  • “Cultivating Connected Knowing in the Classroom: Response to Blythe Clinchy,” Polanyi Society Meetings, November 2006, Washington, DC.
  • “Polanyi.” Guest lecture in Newbigin Class, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA, January 15, 2007.
  • With Starr Meek, “Beauty Matters: The Theology and Epistemology of Personal Beauty.” Friday Evenings at the Institute (Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, MO), August 10, 2007.
  • “Longing to Know.” Lecture to CCCU’s American Studies Program, Washington, DC, September 15, 2007.
  • “Knowing as Information Transformation: Unleashing the Epistemic Dimensions of the Bible.” Faculty Luncheon Presentation, Geneva College, November 6, 2007.
  • “A Sketch of Covenant Epistemology: From Polanyi to Interpersonally Centered Knowing.” Paper presented to the Polanyi Task Group, Center for the Studies of the Person, November 15, 2008, La Jolla, CA.
  • “Response to Linda Zagzebski’s “Self-Trust and Belief in God.” 2007-08 Dr. Byron I. Bitar Memorial Lecture, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA, April 2, 2008.
  • “Longing to Learn: Covenant Epistemology and Pedagogy.” Paper to be presented to the Childlight USA Annual Conference, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC, June 11, 2008.
  • “Marjorie Grene Fifty Years Later: Stopping Short of Personhood.” Paper to be presented at the “Personal Knowledge at Fifty” Polanyi Conference, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, June 13, 2008.
  • Lecturer, Scripture and Ministry Lecture Series, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL, March 17-18, 2009.

Popular Speaking Engagements

  • “Christmas.”Twin Oaks PCA Women’s Banquet (December 1995).
  • “Worldviews.” Women’s retreat, Twin Oaks PCA Church (Spring 1996).
  • “Work and Calling.” Heritage PCA Church Women’s Retreat (1999).
  • “The Baby Who Makes A World of Difference,” Central Presbyterian Church Women’s Christmas Banquet (December 1999).
  • “Decision Making,” Youth in Ministry Institute, Covenant Seminary (January 2000).
  • “The Heart.” Covenant Seminary Women Students Fellowship(February 2000).
  • With Mark Dalbey, “Cross-gender Friendships.” Covenant Seminary Ministry Lunch (May 2000).
  • “Whistle While You Work,” Friday Evenings at the Institute (Covenant Seminary), Borders Bookstore (October 2000).
  • “Personal Significance on a Salary of $17,000 or Less.” Women Students Fellowship, Covenant Seminary (Fall 2000).
  • “Work and Calling.” Youth in Ministry Institute Summer Conference, Covenant Seminary (2000, 2001, 2003).
  • “Whistle While You Work,” Twin Oaks PCA Church Adult Sunday School (12 weeks) (2001).
  • With Michael Gordon, “Hospitality.” Friday Evenings at the Francis Schaeffer Institute (Covenant Seminary) Borders Bookstore (March 2001).
  • “Epistemology.” College group, Chesterfield PCA Church (Summer, 2001).
  • “Learning to See,” Junior High Youth Retreat, Twin Oaks PCA Church (Fall 2001).
  • “Knowing God is Like Knowing Your Auto Mechanic.” Outreach Dessert, Old Orchard PCA Church (Fall 2001).
  • “Hospitality.” Grace and Peace PCA Church Women’s Group (January 2002).
  • “Christianity and Art.” Twin Oaks PCA Church Adult Sunday School (2 weeks) (2002).
  • “Nail Polish and the Kingdom of God.” Memorial PCA Church Women’s Group (May 2002).
  • “The ‘Myths’ of Christianity.” Outreach event, Youth group, Twin Oaks PCA Church (Summer, 2002).
  • “Learning to See,” Youth In Ministry Institute Summer Conference, Covenant Seminary (June 2002).
  • “Chocolat,” and other film discussions for Twin Oaks PCA Singles Group (Summer, 2002).
  • “Worldviews.” Adult Sunday School, Twin Oaks Church (Fall, 2002).
  • “Girls In The Curl: Navigating the Breakers of Life.”Twin Oaks PCA Church Women’s Retreat (October 2002).
  • “Longing to Know and Emmanuel’s Community Outreach,” Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, March 31, April 12, 2004.
  • “Can We Know God?” Combined youth groups of Washington Park Fellowship and Old Orchard Presbyterian Church, April 12, 2004.
  • “Knowing your Auto Mechanic is Like Knowing God,” Sunday School at Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Louis MO, April 28, 2004.
  • “Knowing God is Like Knowing your Auto Mechanic,” Community Outreach Coffee at Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Louis MO, April 28, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know,” Dessert talk in the home of Dr. David Clark, Columbia, MO, April 29, 2004.
  • “How to Clean a Toilet with a Smile on your Face: Applying a Biblical View of Work,” Women’s Retreat, Oak Hills Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, KS, April 30-May 1, 2004.
  • “Rest,” Sunday School, Oak Hills Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, KS, May 2, 2004.
  • “What Shall I Do With My Life?: How Longing, Being and Knowing Affect Calling,” two-night seminar, Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO, May 12-13, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know.” Recorded interview for KSIV Christian Radio, St. Louis, MO, aired May 25, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know,” three talks, Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, Manchester, MO, June 16, 23, 30, 2004.
  • “The YIMI Vision.” Training for Youth In Ministry Institute small group leaders, Seminary faculty speakers, and participating youth pastors (three separate talks), April-June 2004 (this was part of my position as Project Assistant for Covenant Seminary’s Youth in Ministry Institute).
  • “Longing to Know.” Online interview, Penses Book Club, July 11, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know.” Live interview on the Tim and Al Show, KJSL Christian Radio, St. Louis, MO, July 13, 2004.
  • With Dr. Robert Frazier, “Hebrews 11,” “Hebrews 12.” Devotions for the Faculty Retreat, August 21-22, 2004.
  • “How to Clean a Toilet With a Smile on your Face”; Adult Sunday School, Christ Our King Presbyterian Church, Columbia, MO, October 17, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know and Campus Ministry,” lunchtime talk to campus ministers at University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, October 18, 2004.
  • “Longing to Know,” Redeemer Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX, November 18, 2004.
  • Longing to Know coffee house outreach talk, Allegheny Center Alliance Church, Pittsburgh, PA, January 21, 2005.
  • “Renewing Your Purpose,” Women’s Retreat for Fairview Presbyterian Church, April 1-2, 2005.
  • “Identity in Christ.” Talk delivered to Gannon University CCO, November 9, 2005.
  • “Girls in the Curl: Navigating the Transitions of Life,” Talk for Geneva Women Students Retreat, January 28, 2006.
  • “Epistemology Therapy for the Sake of Evangelism,” Talk for Park Cities Presbyterian Church Singles, (October 8, 2007).
  • “Epistemology Therapy for the Sake of Evangelism,” Talk for Maclean Presbyterian Church Singles, (November 16, 2007)
  • “Being, Knowing, and Doing.” Three talks for Trinity Episcopal Church, Beaver, PA, and Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Hopewell, PA, Women’s Retreat (forthcoming: April 20-21, 2007).
  • “Looking the World Back to Grace,” Chapel Talk, Geneva College, April, 2007.
  • “Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Keeping you Balance through Graduation and through Life.” Presentation at Geneva College Career Development Seniors Dinner, April 17, 2007, also April 17, 2008.
  • “Being, Knowing, and Doing: Living Face-to-face with God.” Three talks for Trinity Episcopal Church, Beaver, PA, and Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Hopewell, PA, Women’s Retreat, April 25-26, 2007.
  • “Knowing Knowing; Knowing God.” Two talks for the Western PA RPCNA Women’s Retreat, April 5, 2008.
  • “Signatures.” Geneva College Calling and Vocation Month Chapel Talk, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA, November 2, 2008.

Current Projects

  • Contours of Covenant Epistemology: Conversations On the Way To Knowing, current book project under discussion with Brazos Press. In this “prequel” to Longing to Know, I develop my proposals concerning knowing, centrally recommending that we should take as our paradigm of all acts of knowing the interpersonal, covenantally-nuanced, relationship.
  • Contact With Reality: Polanyi’s Realism And Its Value For Christian Faith. Paternoster Press, forthcoming. My 1985 dissertation have been accepted for publication pending revision to elucidate the value of the work for Christian theology.
  • “Longing to Learn: Covenant Epistemology and Pedagogy.” Paper to be presented to the Childlight USA Annual Conference, Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC, June 11, 2008. Childlight USA fosters educational enterprises which embody the ideals of 19th-Century British educator, Charlotte Mason. Mason is known for her aphorism, “Children are persons.”
  • “Marjorie Grene Fifty Years Later: Stopping Short of Personhood.” Paper to be presented at the “Personal Knowledge at Fifty” Polanyi Conference, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, June 13, 2008.  At this very special conference, I get to engage the work of one of the philosophers whose work I regard most highly, Marjorie Grene. I studied with Grene when she was a visiting professor at Temple; and she served informally on my dissertation committee.

Affiliations, e.g., membership in professional organizations

Professional Memberships

  • Evangelical Philosophical Society (2004-present)
  • Society of Christian Philosophers (2002-present)
  • Polanyi Society (1990-present; member of Board)

Other Professional and Community Service

  • Geneva College Academic Assessment Committee (2005-2008)
  • Organized and facilitates the Geneva College student group and weekly discussion, Thinking Women (2005-present)
  • Advisory Board for Geneva College Career Services (2007-present)
  • Facilitated, sponsored and hosted Geneva College Spring Break Missions Trip to Aliquippa, PA (Spring 2008)
  • With Capt. John Stanley, wrote project design and publicity materials for Uncommon Grounds Café, the Episcopal Church Army mission to Aliquippa, PA (Spring 2008)
  • Member of the Board, Aliquippa Impact (2008-present)
  • Geneva College Oversight Committee (2008-present)

Miscellaneous, e.g., hobbies, sports, personal info

  • I enjoy the music performances of my daughters, students and friends.
  • I love playing Nertz with a great bunch of high school and college friends.
  • I love having people in my home.
  • I love the Steelers, Pittsburgh, and the zesty people and terrain of Western PA.

 

Point of Excellence

Geneva College is the only CCCU institution with a full-time program in Rome, Italy. In Rome, students spend a semester studying the humanities, traveling throughout Italy and Europe, and engaging in volunteer activities.

 
Upcoming Events
Jun03
MBA Information Session
Northwood Hall, room 117 on the Geneva College campus 5:00 p.m.

ARTS & CULTURE
2013 Mancini winners
“Henries” recipients have been announced, and two performers have been selected for a trip to the national awards in NYC.
COMMUNITY
Geneva Across America is underway
Cyclists representing Geneva College and raising funds for a new scholarship begin their transcontinental journey.
ACADEMICS
History students digitize the 1920s at Geneva
An online digital history archive has been created through a semester-long class project.
PUBLICATIONS
May issue of @Geneva
Read about a gesture of love and support displayed by communication disorders students.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
MBA program to hold information sessions
Attend a session in June, August or October to learn more about the program and the new concentrations in finance, marketing or operations.
Meet
Adam
Business Grad