Reviving the Great Conversation in the Digital Age
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Reviving the Great Conversation in the Digital Age
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ThinkingWest aims to revive the “Great Conversation” in our digital age through promoting the study of the great books of the western world, classical approaches to education, and through thoughtful commentary on current events, history, philosophy, culture, education, and religion.
We strive first and foremost to spark an appreciation for the values that built the West. Our content strives for depth and meaning in an era plagued by six second attention spans and clickbait headlines. We challenge ourselves and our readers to read, reflect, and speak out on ideas that matter.
Charles the Great, known today simply as Charlemagne, is regarded as one of the most influential kings to ever rule. King of the Franks since 768 AD, he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the pope in 800, uniting most of western Europe under one banner for the first time since the Roman Empire. UnderContinue reading “Charlemagne: The Pupil and the Penitent”
There’s no single answer for what a “classic” book is. For anyone who ventures an answer, many others will disagree and propose their own definitions, such as the 14 various definitions offered in a New York Review article – none of which I agree with. I found most of these “definitions” to be tongue-in-cheek andContinue reading “What is a Classic Book?”
Who better to inquire about education than a famed 16th century nobleman who inscribed excerpts of wisdom on the wooden beams of his library? Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (often called simply “Montaigne”) authored the heavily influential Essays, an outpouring of his natural philosophies, and had much to say on education. The first thing he tellsContinue reading “Insights from the Lord of Montaigne on Education”
I recently revisited my childhood and cracked open C.S Lewis’s The Silver Chair, the sixth book in his acclaimed Chronicles of Narnia series. As a child the book was a personal favorite of mine – I always appreciated its straightforward adventure plot (boy and girl set out to rescue an enchanted prince from an evilContinue reading “Christian Themes and Imagery in C.S. Lewis’s The Silver Chair”
The typical history class goes like this: “The Peloponnesian War was fought by the Delian league, led by Athens, against the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, during the years spanning 341 to 404 BC. The Delian League leveraged the sea might of Athens, while the Spartans assaulted primarily by land. Ultimately the war was wonContinue reading “Learning History, The Right Way”
What a beautiful photograph and perspective you brought to having a home and family with our Lord! Beautiful perspective on what has happened to Christianity with regard to families and our culture these days! People were lulled into being titillated and mesmerized by technology and people starting trusting in man and materialism to a fault and are abandoning God their only hope of being saved from eternal damnation. Even myself thinking I was always a pretty good Christian now realized I was still diluting my faith with a sprinkle of this or that and even self-ego that I can do OK; sort of giving myself license to sin a little which we all do but, consciously inviting it in a sense, which is not putting one’s whole heart into loving Jesus our Savior! I see now that true repentance and devotional faith; that we are at least trying our best to improve each day is required of us, and we can’t be lukewarm as Scripture tells us so plainly! On Calvary I see how by that best of all examples as our Lord was actually here and finalizing His new and everlasting covenant on that cross, so the despots or fools who lived in sin were being crucified along each side of him but the one that had been cold to seeking our heavenly Father, seeing Jesus the Savior, had his own great epiphany talking to Jesus as they were dying and became hot for truth, and through his humble contrite heart at that juncture, he was saved as Jesus told him, “Verily I say to you today, you will be in paradise with Me.” I feel it’s pretty obvious we must be close to the end time and hopefully more people are going to awaken before it’s too late! God Bless You and Yours.
Lawrence
Thanks so much Lawrence! I was also lukewarm (and am still “warming up”) for Christ in many ways until just a few years ago. I still have a long way to go and continue to struggle in many ways. But, the trajectory is upwards!
Absolutely you’re welcome Christian! Can identify and the only way worth going of course is up so knowing that I figure I better try a helluva lot better if I’m capable! My mother was always saying God only asks that we try our best, see words of wisdom there because Jesus knows our heart perfectly and will know if we did our best in spite of the sins and failures He will know if we are one of His! We are either for Him or against Him, plain and simple! God Bless.
What a beautiful photograph and perspective you brought to having a home and family with our Lord! Beautiful perspective on what has happened to Christianity with regard to families and our culture these days! People were lulled into being titillated and mesmerized by technology and people starting trusting in man and materialism to a fault and are abandoning God their only hope of being saved from eternal damnation. Even myself thinking I was always a pretty good Christian now realized I was still diluting my faith with a sprinkle of this or that and even self-ego that I can do OK; sort of giving myself license to sin a little which we all do but, consciously inviting it in a sense, which is not putting one’s whole heart into loving Jesus our Savior! I see now that true repentance and devotional faith; that we are at least trying our best to improve each day is required of us, and we can’t be lukewarm as Scripture tells us so plainly! On Calvary I see how by that best of all examples as our Lord was actually here and finalizing His new and everlasting covenant on that cross, so the despots or fools who lived in sin were being crucified along each side of him but the one that had been cold to seeking our heavenly Father, seeing Jesus the Savior, had his own great epiphany talking to Jesus as they were dying and became hot for truth, and through his humble contrite heart at that juncture, he was saved as Jesus told him, “Verily I say to you today, you will be in paradise with Me.” I feel it’s pretty obvious we must be close to the end time and hopefully more people are going to awaken before it’s too late! God Bless You and Yours.
Lawrence
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Thanks so much Lawrence! I was also lukewarm (and am still “warming up”) for Christ in many ways until just a few years ago. I still have a long way to go and continue to struggle in many ways. But, the trajectory is upwards!
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Absolutely you’re welcome Christian! Can identify and the only way worth going of course is up so knowing that I figure I better try a helluva lot better if I’m capable! My mother was always saying God only asks that we try our best, see words of wisdom there because Jesus knows our heart perfectly and will know if we did our best in spite of the sins and failures He will know if we are one of His! We are either for Him or against Him, plain and simple! God Bless.
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Great blog. I’ll check out more of your posts.
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Fresh
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Sharable
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radical
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