Tag Archives: Augustine

Interview: Why Christians Should Read the Great Books

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Dr. J

A recent post here resulted in an invitation to appear on the Research on Religion podcast. Host Tony Gill was intrigued by my applying lessons from Plato to dining at Applebee’s in the 21st century. We recorded the interview last … Continue reading →

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Rationality, Instinct, and Miracles

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Dr. J

At long last, I’m able to make this week’s Great Books post, after going close to a week without a decent internet connection. Here are the readings for this week: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Ch. 37-43 (GBWW … Continue reading →

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“To Be, or Not to Be; That Is the Bare Bodkin”

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Dr. J

It’s another Great Books Monday, and an acid test of my commitment to this project because I’ve had to lug several books on my family vacation. So far, so good! Here are the readings for the upcoming week: Adventures of … Continue reading →

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Happiness is a Form of Contemplation

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Dr. J

Here we are on another Great Books Monday, and this week we’ll break that 8,000-page barrier I mentioned last week. That includes almost 2,400 pages of imaginative literature, over 1,900 pages of “man and society,” over 1,600 pages of science/mathematics, … Continue reading →

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Bad Philosophy Leads to Moral Corruption

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Dr. J

It’s Great Books Monday, and this week we’ll come within a whisker of our 8,000th page of reading since January 2011. Things sure do add up after awhile. Here are the readings for the upcoming week: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn … Continue reading →

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How Would Aristotle Describe YOUR Friendships?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Dr. J

It’s Great Books Monday once again, and I’d like to note that in this program’s most difficult genre (for me), science and mathematics, we’re going to pass the 1,600-page mark this week. But if you’re just joining us, don’t despair; … Continue reading →

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Civilization Trumps Love

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Dr. J

Don’t look now, but this week those who have followed the Great Books Project in its entirety will read their 2,000th  page of philosophy and theology since January 2011. Feeling smarter? Here are the readings for the upcoming week: Adventures … Continue reading →

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Get Over Yourself, Walt

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Dr. J

With 7,500 pages down and a mere 30,000 or so to go, we are motoring through the Great Books here at the Western Tradition. For new readers, this may be a good week to jump into the program because we … Continue reading →

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The Fundamental Human Right to . . . Join a Union?

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Dr. J

The records keep falling here at the Western Tradition on our Great Books Project. This week we’ll pass the 7,500-page mark. Are you ready?  Here are the readings for the upcoming week: Preface to Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman … Continue reading →

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You Can Cheat Death (if Heracles Beats Him up for You)

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Dr. J

Here we are on another Great Books Monday, and we’re about to experience some bracing contrasts in our readings. I guess that’s what you call it when you group a Christian theologian with a medieval romance, secular humanitarianism, and a … Continue reading →

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