Classical Et Cetera Should Students Study Pagan Beliefs in a Classical Education?
Sep 3, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of pagan philosophy and literature! Discover why studying pagan texts can enrich a Christian education. The discussion highlights how ancient thinkers like Plato and Aristotle posed significant questions, leading to deeper Christian truths. Learn about practical strategies for teaching Greek myths and how they can enhance comprehension of classic literature. The conversation emphasizes discernment in reading pagan works, ensuring they align with Christian doctrine.
47:28
Greeks Asked The Right Questions
- Chesterton's framing: paganism searched and Christianity supplied answers.
- The hosts say pagans asked many of the right questions even if their answers were incomplete.
Paul At The Areopagus
- Martin highlights Paul's Areopagus speech as a pivotal meeting of Greek thought and Christian revelation.
- He stresses Paul quoted pagan poets and appealed to their culture to present Christ.
Read Pagans With Discernment
- Read pagan works discerningly because they can contain true insights derived from human reason.
- Don't reject correct truths simply because their authors were pagans; evaluate ideas on merit.
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Intro
00:00 • 17min
Why Study Pagan Authors?
17:10 • 6min
Paul at the Areopagus and Natural Reason
23:20 • 9min
Teaching Greek Myths: Practical Concerns
32:41 • 9min
Philosophy, Discernment, and the One Truth
41:38 • 5min
Outro
46:34 • 54sec
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The human factor
R. H. Ward
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The Idiot
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky between 1867 and 1869, 'The Idiot' follows the story of Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, a young man with a pure and innocent heart, often mistaken for an 'idiot' due to his simplicity and goodness.
The novel examines how this 'positively beautiful man' navigates a world filled with corruption, moral decay, and complex human relationships.
Myshkin's interactions with characters like Nastasya Filippovna and Aglaia Epanchina highlight themes of love, suffering, sacrifice, and the clash between idealistic values and the harsh realities of society.
The novel ultimately leads to Myshkin's mental breakdown and his inability to cope with the world around him.
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The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lyon, Volume 1
Beth Brower
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Around the World in 80 Days
Nik Marcel
Jules Verne
George Towle
Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days" follows the adventurous journey of Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman, who wagers he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.
Accompanied by his French valet, Passepartout, Fogg embarks on a thrilling race against time, encountering various challenges and exciting adventures along the way.
The novel explores themes of adventure, determination, and the clash between tradition and modernity.
Verne's detailed descriptions of different cultures and landscapes add to the story's immersive quality.
The novel's enduring popularity stems from its captivating plot and timeless themes.
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Mythology
Edith Hamilton
Edith Hamilton's 'Mythology' is a definitive guide to the myths of Western culture, covering Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology.
The book is divided into several sections, including the gods, creation and early heroes, stories of love and adventure, the great heroes of the Trojan War, and lesser myths.
It also includes a brief section on Norse mythology.
Hamilton's work brings these ancient stories to life, highlighting their influence on art, literature, and cultural inquiry from antiquity to the present.
The book serves both as a reference text for scholars and a readable guide for general audiences.
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Tom Jones
Henry Fielding
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Utopia
Sir Thomas More
Written in 1516, 'Utopia' by Sir Thomas More is a seminal work of fiction that presents an ideal society on a fictional island.
The book is divided into two parts: the first critiques the social and economic issues of early 16th-century England, while the second introduces the Utopian society as a potential solution.
Utopia is characterized by communal property, no class distinctions or poverty, little crime, religious freedom, and a strict egalitarian system.
More uses this imaginary society to highlight the flaws of European politics and society of his time, advocating for a more just and equal world.
The work is notable for its influence on later socialist and communist thought and continues to be a subject of discussion in political theory and philosophy.
#26616
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Dallaire's Book of Greek Myths
Ingri d'Aulaire
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Magister Ludi
Herman Hesse
The novel is set in the fictional province of Castalia, a place reserved for intellectual pursuits where technology and economic life are minimized.
It follows the life of Joseph Knecht, who rises to become the Magister Ludi, the executive officer of the Castalian Order's game administrators.
The story explores Knecht's education, his mastery of the Game, and his eventual questioning of the order's isolation from the world's problems.
The book is a deep exploration of the human search for meaning, purpose, and spiritual awakening.
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The Go-Giver
A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
John David Mann
Bob Burg
The Go-Giver tells the story of Joe, an ambitious young man who learns the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success from a series of mentors introduced by the enigmatic Pindar.
These laws—Value, Compensation, Influence, Authenticity, and Receptivity—emphasize the importance of giving and adding value to others' lives.
By shifting his focus from getting to giving, Joe experiences unexpected returns and achieves greater success in both his business and personal life.
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1984
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism.
The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother.
Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative.
He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination.
The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
#40
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Brave New World
Aldous Huxley
Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy.
The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom.
The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State.
The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom.
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The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Set in a post-apocalyptic North America known as Panem, The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl from District 12, who volunteers to participate in the 74th Hunger Games to save her younger sister Prim.
Alongside Peeta Mellark, the other tribute from District 12, Katniss must use her hunting skills and wits to survive the arena.
The Games are a tool of oppression by the Capitol to remind the districts of their defeat in a past rebellion.
As Katniss and Peeta navigate the treacherous arena, they also manipulate the audience and sponsors to gain advantages, while sparking the beginnings of a rebellion against the Capitol's tyrannical rule.
#32239
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
On the nature of the gods
Cicero
On this week's Classical Et Cetera, Memoria Press takes on one of our most common questions in classical Christian education: Why should Christians study paganism at all?
We explore how to approach pagan philosophy, literature, and Greek mythology in the classroom, and why these texts still matter for students learning within the tradition of Christianity. From Plato and Aristotle to Paul at the Areopagus, we consider how pagan authors asked the right questions—and how the Bible is where we ultimately get the answers.
Whether you’re a homeschool parent, a teacher, or simply curious about classical education, this conversation will help you see how pagan works can be taught with discernment, why they remain part of a Memoria Press curriculum, and how to read them in light of the truth of Christianity.
Read "Why Should Christians Read the Pagan Classics" from our founder, Cheryl Lowe: https://www.memoriapress.com/articles/why-should-christians-read-pagan-classics/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=185
*What We're Reading* from This Episode:
_The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion_—Beth Brower (Tanya)
_The Human Factor_—Graham Greene (Paul)
_Around the World in Eighty Days_—Jules Verne (Paul)
_The Idiot_—Fyodor Dostoevsky (Martin)