What’s the difference between principles, truths, and rudiments? These may be completely foreign terms to you, but they are basic terms in Biblically principled education that is expansionary. Expansionary education teaches by “planting seeds that contain the whole” by getting to the core principles of a subject and beginning with those and from those the whole subject grows. This is sometimes called teaching from whole to parts.
The definitions of these terms somewhat overlap. But you see slight nuances in them that give us our basis of usage.
Principle: Source or origin of any thing, that from which a thing proceeds; element, constituent part; ground, foundation; a general truth; a law comprehending many subordinate truths.
Truths: (see also McDowell quote below): Conformity to fact or reality; true state of facts or things; fidelity, constancy; real fact of just principle; conformity to rule.
Rudiments: A first principle or element, that which is to be first learnt.
Let’s take a look at what others say about these:
This first came from a discussion with Ellen at the Foundation for American Christian Eduction:
Every subject will have its own individual principles. “THE 7”
Principles (of American Christian History and Government) are basic
foundational Biblical principles. You will find them interwoven
through much of what you study. But every lesson in every subject is
not based upon “the 7”. Utilize them as they fit. Utilize others as
they fit.
This from McDowell & Beliles book “Liberating the Nations”:
“While the Bible contains thousands of truths, these can be broken down into a small number of principles form which the truths spring forth. If these principles are known, this provides complete parameters through which to view life, assuring that one truth is not forgotten while embracing a new one.” And they go on to discuss principles as “seed”.
So how do we use these terms? I don’t know that there is anything magical about the terminology but from the above this is how I use them. IOW, this is a generally the explanation I go with but it is not set in cement.
1) I term the “Universal” or Foundational Principles as the “7”. These are God’s governing principles that overrule so many areas of all of life.
2) The Biblical principles that are specific to a subject I usually term the Biblical Truths (or Biblical principles) of the subject.
3) And the principles that govern the subject (not directly derived from the Bible), the first rules of the subject itself, I usually term the Rudiments.
I will post an example, probably in the subject of math, and add its link here – hopefully later today.
