The manipulative power of music is well known to those who have a financial interest in persuasion. Popular jingles like “I’m Lovin’ It” and “Gimme a Break” have been used to sell billions of dollars worth of product through their simple, unforgettable melodies that stay with us whenever we’re deciding where to eat or whatContinue reading “The Earworm that Rocked the Early Church “
Category Archives: history
10 Great Libraries of the World
Before the advent of computers, libraries were the preeminent aggregators of human knowledge and art. Besides that of the church, no other building occupies such an exalted station in the opinion of civilized peoples. Libraries attract the curious, humble the studious, challenge the most acute, and foster a rare but welcoming tranquility. The library remainsContinue reading “10 Great Libraries of the World”
Great Books of Christianity: Reformation and Enlightenment
In our third installment of the Great Books of Christianity, we explore the works hailing from one of the most tumultuous times in Christian history: the Reformation. As new forms of Christianity spread throughout the West, theologians on all sides sharpened their pens and duked it out on parchment. The theological battles that raged foreverContinue reading “Great Books of Christianity: Reformation and Enlightenment”
The Uncommon Act, the Moral Arc, and How We Should Consider Historical Figures
In recent years angry protesters across the United States have toppled several statues depicting historical figures from America’s past. Much of this anger is driven by outrage at the atrocities in which these historical figures were involved. Unfortunately, much of this anger has been targeted at individuals whose contribution to American history isn’t completely negative inContinue reading “The Uncommon Act, the Moral Arc, and How We Should Consider Historical Figures”
Great Books of Christianity: The Early Church
Perhaps no other topic has been written about in the West more than Christianity. In the past 2,000 years, tomes on the faith have been written by kings, monks, prophets, and laymen alike. One might conclude that no other faith has inspired, and been inspired by, great literature quite like Christianity. Therefore, in our nextContinue reading “Great Books of Christianity: The Early Church”
TW on Youtube: Dangers of Democracy
The word “democracy” appears exactly zero times in the United States Constitution. And yet, no form of government is celebrated with the same fervency as democracy. Recently, the phrase “Our Democracy” has been coopted by nearly every politician as an attempt to appeal to the populace’s supposedly unshakeable faith in the voting process. Appeals toContinue reading “TW on Youtube: Dangers of Democracy”
The Expansion of Group Identities: From the Village to the Globe
For most of history, the far away problems occupied relatively small spaces in the minds of the average person. The challenges facing the village, city-state, or empire hundreds of miles away had little impact on our ancestor’s tight-knit community that faced challenges of its own: drought, crime, disputes with neighboring communities, a poor crop yield,Continue reading “The Expansion of Group Identities: From the Village to the Globe”
Battles that Defined the West
In today’s hot political climate, it’s popular to suggest that the West is engaged in a battle of epic proportions, one that will determine the future of Western civilization. This battle could be analyzed in cultural, political, or spiritual terms. As of the time of this writing in 2023, we can be thankful that ourContinue reading “Battles that Defined the West”
Exploring the Oldest Christmas Carols
With the arrival of Advent season and the anticipation of Christmas arriving soon, decorations are taken out of storage, dusted off, and excitedly placed around our homes. Lights are strung around our trees, houses, and towns, illuminating the darkest time of the year with all the glory that modern LED technology can provide, while nativityContinue reading “Exploring the Oldest Christmas Carols”
ThinkingWest on YouTube: 12 Great Books of Western History
In this episode, I highlight a dozen of the most influential works of history, spanning from the Ancient Greeks to the 20th century. While many more works could be included, particularly from the authors of antiquity, I attempted to draw from authors across diverse time periods and to cover a breadth of history. For example,Continue reading “ThinkingWest on YouTube: 12 Great Books of Western History”