Inspire, Spring 2010

Josh Hanks ’97 earned his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2000. He married Angela Miller three years later, and they have two sons. Josh currently works as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston, West Virginia, and serves as a deacon, adult Bible fellowship leader, and bass player at Bible Center Church. You may contact him at josh.hanks@suddenlink.net . which served as excellent groundwork for a career that requires effective communication. Since then, I’ve discovered how profoundly a liberal arts degree develops the way a person thinks. Students in liberal arts programs tend to be observers of the human condition, an inclination I still carry into the courtroom. Studying the works of great authors, artists, philosophers, and historians reveals the complexities and context of human behavior and the motives behind that behavior. In so doing, one cannot escape the realization that there is much to learn. Read Harper Lee, for instance, and you will be forced to contemplate your prejudices and fears toward those who are different from you. Listening to jazz musician Nina Simone can teach us about our nation’s struggle for equality. Author Carson McCullers’ writing reminds us of the plight of the most marginalized of our citizens. As we come to understand Greek philosophers, we learn to recognize their influence on the founding of our own nation. And by examining the successes and failures of the Roman Empire, we realize the pitfalls associated with modern political systems. My studies at Cedarville showed me that my view of the world was quite narrow. It was through literature, philosophy, and history that I grew to appreciate and understand the degree of diversity in the world. Diversity in ethnicity and other demographic variables was apparent even in my two-stoplight hometown of Poca, West Virginia. Yet, for me, the true discovery came through my study of literature and philosophy as I recognized the drastic differences people have in their life experiences and worldviews. A few years ago, I presented what I thought was a slam-dunk case, heavily supported by the testimony of several drug task force agents. Since childhood, I had always believed that, if I were ever lost or in trouble, I could trust the police to help me. Since there was only one witness for the defense, I was confident the “boys in blue” would carry the day. But I’ll never forget overhearing a juror state that she would never believe a police officer no matter what he said under oath. An hour later, the room turned upside down as I watched this repeat offender saunter out of the courtroom cloaked in the freedom of a “not guilty” verdict. Clearly, the jury and I had different perspectives. This diversity of thought is what I continue to study as a federal prosecutor. This is what the judge tries to convey in his speech to convicts. He’s telling them — and me — that when we refuse to look beyond the confines of our own small corner of the world, we stunt our growth. Reading offers a glimpse into other cultures and mindsets. As Atticus Finch said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” A liberal arts degree is not the only way to expand one’s view, but it can be a tremendous advantage. Key Testimony Unfortunately, the main element missing from the courtroom and from most liberal arts programs throughout the country is Jesus. I have a tremendous appreciation for Cedarville’s commitment to a biblical worldview. An education in critical thinking and the humanities outside the context of God’s redemptive plan for a fallen world is little more than an exercise in political correctness. It is a common refrain throughout the judicial system that often a defendant is not a bad person but rather someone who simply made bad decisions or mistakes. The truth is that there has only been one good man in the whole of history. We are all born with a sin nature and, as such, make bad decisions and mistakes. Contrary to what the judge says, the best insurance against a life of continual sin is not found solely in a good education. Rather, our minds are renewed and our lives transformed through the work of Jesus Christ. i CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY 15