Winners of 2013 Christian Worldview Essay Contest

The First Prize of $3,000 plus 15 books are awarded to C. Jay Engel of Folsom, California for his essay "Gordon Clark on Science and Behaviorism".

There was no Second Prize awarded this year.

The Third Prize of $1,000 plus 5 books are awarded to Conrad Martin of Ephrata, Pennsylvania for his essay "Behaviorism: The Broken Machine".

Congratulations to our winners, and thanks to all those who entered the Contest. All entrants had to read the books Behaviorism and Christianity and The Philosophy of Science and Belief in God both by Dr. Gordon H. Clark and write an essay about the books.

The First Prize winner is C. Jay Engel.

Biography: I was blessed to be raised and homeschooled in a Christian home where my parents instilled in me a love of learning and a desire to know God. At 22, I am the oldest of six children and have recently graduated from a Christian college in Rocklin, CA with a degree in Public Policy (emphasis in economics) and a degree in Bible and Theology. I have long had a desire to gain understanding and realized that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).

I was saved at a young age, discovered the Doctrines of Grace as a senior in High School, and shortly thereafter discovered the works of Cornelius Van Til as I sought a Reformed apologetic. As a student in economics, it dawned on me that I needed a consistent Christian theory of economics that was centered on the Word of God. By God’s providence, I found The Trinity Foundation and John Robbins’ lectures and essays on the topic. Finding that Robbins quoted Gordon Clark more than any other author, I decided to give him a try to see how he "matched up" with the Vantillians. I was delighted to find the most profound, coherent, and consistently God-glorifying presentation of Christian theology and philosophy that I had ever encountered. I happily left Van Til behind and read every single Clark book I could get my hands on. I am so thankful that God introduced me to "America’s Augustine" (to use John Robbins’ phrase for Clark), and I pray that more people would take up the works of Gordon Clark.

I currently reside in the Sacramento, CA area with my lovely wife and recently born daughter. My favorite verse is John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." Every Christian should know it well.

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The Third Prize winner is Conrad Martin.

Biography: In my father’s house are many bookshelves; if it were not so, I could not have written this essay. My mother has amply supplied me and my ten siblings with life’s necessities and, if my essay were as good as her meals, the judges’ decision would have been easier. A special thank you is due to my sister Carmen and her inexhaustible supply of red ink. At seventeen, I am finishing up my formal home-schooling and looking to the future. To supply my corporeal needs, I have started a piano-moving company. I enjoy studying Biblical Greek and Hebrew under my pastor. Though a piano-mover by trade, I am a philosopher by preference.

I first came into contact with Dr. Clark when I was wrestling with assurance of salvation a couple of years ago. I pulled a book off my father’s shelf titled What Is Saving Faith? By the end, my doubts were gone, and my theology transformed. I began this essay project as a final high-school writing challenge (not without view also to the economic benefits). In a few weeks, I found that Clark had shaken my thinking to the core. I hope that this essay will play a small part in convincing the world that philosophy must be deduced from the text of Scripture.

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