Western Literature II, Week 3

Was More risking persecution by the church because of this book?  No. He wasn’t risking a brass farthing.   Thomas More, an official in King Henry VIII’s government, would certainly not be persecuted for an obscure satire of society. It was published shortly before his ascension to the title of Lord Chancellor, and seemed to have no impact whatsoever on his application…

Western Literature II, Week 2

Thomas More’s Utopia is considered a masterpiece of English literature. It is a satire on utopian views, seen through the lens of a traveler. This traveler had supposedly seen Utopia, a ‘perfect’ island of total peace.   Amusing, but unrealistic.   This is the exact point of the book. This traveler begins as a no-nonsense reformer, with quite sensible views. But he goes…

Western Civilization II, Week 3

The German Reformation was an intentional effort towards change. Martin Luther and other famous reformers wrote documents, preached, and struggled towards acceptance of the new Protestant denominations. In contrast, The English Reformation was sparked by a lustful Catholic king seeking to escape his marriage.  The German Reformation  We all know the famous tale of Martin Luther tacking his Ninety-Five…

Biology, Week 2

You might flinch at the mention of carbohydrates. In today’s world, the word is associated with increased body mass, ill-fitting attire, and heart attacks. Not the most pleasant association. Proteins have a more favorable outlook, and people are encouraged to consume protein to stay healthy. So what makes them different?  Proteins vs. Carbohydrates  Proteins are formed from of…

Government, Week 1

Families have existed forever. Marriage, love, and a caring home. But are families more than just a domestic occurrence? Do they have the right to claim themselves as their own forms of civil government?  Role of Families  Families are the building block of all society. The atoms to our molecule. And without families, and the rules…

Government, Week 3

Say that only in-person schools are allowed, to ‘make society good.’   The most common form of school is public school. This is a government-funded program, that takes money away from taxpayers to fund schools. Taxpayers lose- they could just as easily pay for their children’s education otherwise. Children lose- they have no options for their education. Online…

Government, Week 2

The family is a government, just like civil government. Parents are sovereign over their children. Parents also must report to the state in certain cases. The law is set by parents, according to their own moral compass. Sanctions are both positive and negative, in contrast with a correctly maintained civil government. Succession is maintained through inheritance, and by starting new…

Western Civilization II, Week 1

How would you describe the condition of the Catholic Church on the eve of the Protestant Reformation?  The Catholic Church saw a serious decline in piety- or at least in sincerity- during the Middle Ages. Bishops held multiple posts, demanding absence from some of them. Priests had no formal training, and strayed ever-farther from the Biblical sources. Clergy…

Western Literature II, Week 1

Many of the crucial documents of the Western world are of a religious nature. The Bible changed the worldviews of many, introducing the unanimous culture dubbed ‘Christendom.’ But this culture, this glass dome staving off the elements of inter-religious war, was shattered. Not with a stone- though it is indeed a popular metaphor. But instead from a man…

Western Civilization I, Week 35

How were the ideas of Marsilius of Padua evident in Louis of Bavaria's conflict with Pope John XXII? Marsilius of Padua firmly believed in separating the Church from the state. He didn’t think that the Pope should exercise any temporal authority, rather believing that the Church should be subject to the emperor. He disagreed with…