Power without Purpose
Power without purpose is dangerous and wasteful. I recently finished Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, a retelling of some of the stories of Odin, Thor, Loki, and the other gods of Norse mythology. I was struck time and again by a lack of purpose in their lives. They possessed an incredible power, yet they lacked any overarching sense of purpose and so they use this power … Continue reading Power without Purpose
Monday Musings (August 14, 2017): A Praying Professor
This past Thursday I returned to work. Arriving early and walking down the empty hallways, it’s always an eerie feeling to think how soon they will be filled with hordes of teenagers. I thought about all of the things I needed to prepare before I was ready, and I knew I was further away than I had hoped. In the days that have followed, I … Continue reading Monday Musings (August 14, 2017): A Praying Professor
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Book Blurbs)
Yesterday Josh Dyson published an excellent piece on Fahrenheit 451, “Freedom in the Fire,” so I thought today would be a good day to share my Book Blurb on the novel as well. I finally got around to reading this book last summer, and I realize I should have done so much sooner. It has features of character development that could be better, but Bradbury’s portrayal of … Continue reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Book Blurbs)
Freedom in the Fire–Fahrenheit 451
by Josh Dyson, Classical School of Wichita Montag: ”I don’t want to change sides and just be told what to do. There’s no reason to change if I do that.” Faber: ”You’re wise already!” The dialogue above between Montag, the protagonist, and Faber, the wise sage, in Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, takes place in the middle of Montag’s crisis of belief. He … Continue reading Freedom in the Fire–Fahrenheit 451
Monday Musings (August 7, 2017): Reading for Wonder, Imagination, and Joy
Last week Megan Allen posted an article called “Professional Creep: How Work Can Take Over Your Life (and Your Book List)” in which she tells the story of how she was preparing to bring books on grant writing on a vacation. She laments that she has failed to maintain the same joy and wonder that she had as a kid with a bag full of … Continue reading Monday Musings (August 7, 2017): Reading for Wonder, Imagination, and Joy
Political Thought: A Student’s Guide by Hunter Baker (Book Blurbs)
Baker provides a succinct and helpful introduction to political thought. He includes brief surveys of major political philosophers such as Hobbes, Mill, Locke, and Rousseau, as well as surveying some key political themes like justice, order, and freedom. He does an excellent job of surveying the role of government generally and specific Christian contribution to government. This is an excellent introduction in both clarity and … Continue reading Political Thought: A Student’s Guide by Hunter Baker (Book Blurbs)
Virtue Ethics: The Dilemma of Postmodern Democracy (Portrait of a Graduate Series)
By Christian Lingner, School of the Ozarks Class of 2014 History reveals three main ways in which societies can be structured or governed. Probably the most historically popular system is that which governs through a top-down approach, employing regulations and obligations to force the common people to comply with the government’s wishes. Another possibility is complete anarchy, simply letting people do as they wish without … Continue reading Virtue Ethics: The Dilemma of Postmodern Democracy (Portrait of a Graduate Series)
Monday Musings (July 31, 2017): Fighting for Time to Read
I recently read an excellent reflection by Phillip Yancey called “Reading Wars” in which he reflects on how easy it is to train ourselves only to read short, blog-like entries and fail to dive into deep and difficult books. Now, please don’t stop reading my short, blog-like entries, but do take care that we also cultivate the difficult skill of analytical reading. My point in … Continue reading Monday Musings (July 31, 2017): Fighting for Time to Read
Nexus Notes–July 28, 2017
A nexus is a series of connections linking two or more things. These notes are dedicated to linking us to great content elsewhere out on the web. Great Audio Library – AmongstLovelyThings.com has a great post with many worthwhile classical Christian education lectures. This is a beneficial link for hours of good listening from great classical speakers. Ten Pedagogical Essentials – A well-done, comprehensive PDF … Continue reading Nexus Notes–July 28, 2017
Stop Loving People, Part 2
By Josh Dyson, Classical School of Wichita If you have not done so, I encourage you to read the introduction to this series, Stop Loving People, Part 1. In this series of blogs we will consider the following: 1. God’s particular love; 2. that the abstraction of “people” leads to non-love; 3. and that God has placed particular people in your schools and lives to … Continue reading Stop Loving People, Part 2
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (Book Blurbs)
This book was even better than expected. It is thought-provoking, wonderfully written, and told in an interesting way, mixing flashbacks with inward thoughts and dialogue in the flow of the narrative. It is particularly helpful for our present day which still deals with issues of race and the role of the government, both of which stand at the center of the conflict in the novel. … Continue reading Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (Book Blurbs)
Failure is Not an Option, but It Does Have Consequences (Theology through the Eyes of Fiction)
Failure is Not an Option, but It Does Have Consequences: Eragon’s Blessing and the High Call of Christian Leaders in the Inheritance Saga Near the end of Eragon, (Book 1 of the Inheritance Saga), a woman brings a young girl named Elva to Eragon that he might bless her. Desiring to make the blessing meaningful, Eragon speaks in the ancient language as Saphira (his dragon) touches … Continue reading Failure is Not an Option, but It Does Have Consequences (Theology through the Eyes of Fiction)
The Classical Thistle 