Paleo Protestant Pudcast

Does Confessional Protestantism Need Classical Education

Aug 20, 2025
They discuss preparing college courses and whether a classical, Great Books style of learning fits confessional Protestant formation. They trace links from Renaissance humanism and the Reformation to ministerial training and liturgy. They debate classical schooling for children, gaps in curricula, civic formation, and whether the Bible counts as a Great Book.
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INSIGHT

Reformation Tied Educational Reform To Theology

  • Korey links the Reformation to curriculum reform: Reformers mixed Renaissance humanism and theological recovery, pushing to read whole primary works and original languages.
  • This made Greek and Latin study practically useful for theology and biblical studies, which shaped Protestant ministerial training.
ANECDOTE

Family Classical Education Includes Mandatory Latin

  • Korey says his children are required to study Latin and whole primary sources, which humbled him because he didn't read many complete works until graduate school.
  • He hopes this produces a well-furnished mind that sees connections across literature, science, and history.
INSIGHT

Classical Education Offers Rooted Epistemology For Parishioners

  • Miles Smith IV and Korey note classical education supporters often seek rootedness and epistemological stability that they feel Bible study alone doesn't provide.
  • In Miles's parish, former evangelicals value classical schooling for durable formation beyond transient evangelical practices.
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