Calvin Prof Writes Book on Deadly Sins

A Calvin College professor has turned one of her colleges courses into a guidebook on spiritual development for teens and young adults.

Philosophy professor Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung teaches a class on the seven deadly sins to Calvin seniors, explaining to them that the sins function as a tool to diagnose barriers to discipleship. As part of the class, her students then teach the concept to 18-year-olds.

From that engagement with her students, and the “field-testing,” has come “The Seven Deadly Sins: A Survival Guide,” available Friday,September 7 from Faith Alive Christian Resources.

“The book really is a translation project,” says DeYoung. “I seek to take what is rich and enduring in the tradition and make it real and relevant for young people.”

DeYoung anchors “The Seven Deadly Sins” in the Bible and in the church’s historic teaching about moral development, using quotes and small selections to introduce students to the church fathers. Each chapter also includes interactive activities to engage students.

Last summer she received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities which payed for her participation in a seminar at Darwin College at the University of Cambridge called “The Seven Deadly Sins as Cultural Constructions in the Middle Ages.”

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For more information or to read a sample chapter, visit www.FaithAliveResources.org/Seven.