The Sahara of the Bozart

"So what are Christians doing in the way of imaginative nourishment of children?"

To be perfectly honest, not much, at least today. But, I can't honestly say that anyone else is doing much either. It's like there's some huge cutoff in the middle of the 1950's, and after that nothing much good has come. (Okay, there are few good things out there, but not many. Even a canine's hindquarters are naturally illuminated occasionally.) Most conservatives will point and say, see it's all the evil 60's! Now, the 60's aren't exactly the best human culture has to offer, but they did okay, considering what they had to work with. (The 70's are another matter entirely, IMO.)

What's truly significant about the fifties is that it is the adults of that decade who were the last to be enculturated on the Classics in any real sense. They were the children of the 20' and 30's, when it was still possible to be educated by someone who was educated in the Classical tradition. They were still able to draw on that well.

So, you have the writings of Tolkien and Lewis, but not much since then. And Christianity is the worse for it. Now, I am not advocating an uncritical reading of Classical works for the Christian. But, Christianity doesn't have the exclusive province of truth, beauty, and wisdom. If I find something beautiful somewhere, and it isn't specifically Christian, does that mean that it isn't beautiful?

Athens was a cesspool of immorality, as the Christian sees it. Yet, in spite of that, it was able to produce some of the most erudite, beautiful, and inspiring works known to man. I see Jerusalem as the lense that focuses in on the good things in Athens for our benefit, and the bad things for the furtherance of wisdom. If I can show my children the bad end of some specific immorality in the life of an Ancient, then they can (hopefully) see where immorality leads without going there themselves.

Also, if I can show my children how much the Ancients acheived without the benefit of Jerusalem, I can teach them to respect others outside of Christianity. Christians aren't perfect either, and I wouldn't want my children to idealize anyone to the extent that they forget their flaws.

Now, as to what I am personally doing, well, muddling through for the most part.

Heather>

Heather, your comment has made me curious--is this something in which you're involved?

Richard>

Well, that link didn't work. Apologies. Try www.latincentered.com>