Philosophy Regarding Faith

The University’s founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune states in her Last Will and Testament, “Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service.” While faith denotatively is defined as the trust, confidence or belief a living being has in a person or thing, it connotatively serves as the impetus for philosophical, theological, and social engagement. 

Faith is conceptualized by hope embedded in the psyche of the individual and manifests as action stimulated by a desire for an expected outcome.  While immeasurable by tangible instruments of assessment, faith is evidential as action and/or inaction stimulated by hope.  Therefore, as described in the Book of Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  It is this act of believing that gives credibility and purpose to life and leads to intellectual and social mobility.  

As students live out the B-CU Motto, “Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve.”, they are encouraged to use their gifts and talents to engage in the global economy and make the world a better place.  This fundamental invitation for students to give of themselves requires faith: faith that the world can be a better place and faith that members of the human race can improve life for others.  

When Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune started the Industrial School for Girls on October 3, 1904, faith led her to believe that her contributions in education could transform the lives of young minority girls grappling with the horrid disenfranchisement of the postbellum South.  For more than 114 years, B-CU has imbibed the faith of our founder and is radically transforming the lives of students and others globally.  

Furthermore, an excess of 4.6 billion people in the world ascribes to a system of faith whereby they believe in God or a higher principle of power and use this system of belief as a moral compass to determine communal values.  As B-CU students prepare to serve as global leaders, it is imperative that they develop an appreciation for the impact of faith.  It is strongly recommended that they give considerable attention to developing their personal faith system as a global citizen.  

Several studies have shown that religious college students do better on critical indicators of academic success, have lower rates of substance abuse, participate in fewer activities that undermine college careers and tend to devote more time to pro-social causes.