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The Emperor is Naked!

In the last five years there has been a growing trend which is reflected in the availability of numerous Greek mythology and philosophy books in homeschool catalogs and at curriculum fairs. I feel like the little boy who felt that he must point out the emperor's obvious lack of clothing. Well-intentioned Christians have combined classical Greek educational methods with Bible-based curricula, which is exactly the same error that the early Church committed!

The classical Greek approach focuses on
Greek literature and man's reasoning.

Ancient Hebrew methods focus on
God's Word and faith.

Why Go Back to the Ancient Greek Ways?
Why not Return to Biblical Methods?

The Bible warns us about Greek philosophies:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Under the ancient Greek system, learning begets goodness. Under the biblical system, goodness begets learning. All non-biblical education assumes that man can become learned without God. Biblical education makes knowledge the foundation of learning.

Greece was a once mighty empire. The ancient Greeks promoted beautiful fashion, fine dining, sonorous music, aesthetic arts, vigorous athletics, captivating entertainment, and a bevy of similarly stimulating activities. The ancient Greeks were the most advanced and sophisticated culture of their time. Were it not for their excellence (applying the principle to modern terms), we would not have heart transplants, ballet, air transportation or, for that matter, the Internet.

So why didn't the ancient Greek empire survive more than a few hundred years? Historians concur that they were destroyed by moral decay. Pursuing knowledge without God is a recipe for disaster. We simply cannot survive without clear moral direction.

Greek vs Hebrew Thought

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Three Approaches to Classical Literature—and Our Alternative

Currently there are three different approaches to literature by using with the classical approach:

With the traditional focus on mythology and Greek philosophy.
Using the classical methods, but rejecting material written by pagans.
Immersion into the classic literature from a critical viewpoint.

To take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ means that we must be discerning about what goes into our minds and the minds of our children. The classical book list entitled the "Great Books of the Western World" contains the writings of Plato, Sophocles, Aristotle, and other men who declare that the answers to life's mysteries and problems are found in men and not in God. Our children should be immersed in the sixty-six great books in God's Word, not in writings by men who knew not our Lord!

1. Traditional Focus on Classics

The focus of the traditional classical approach is on Greek mythology, philosophy, logic, and Latin. The current best-selling homeschool book on the classical approach focuses on creating a student Plato would be proud of. Students of all ages, beginning with kindergartners, are immersed in stories about Greek gods. Mythology and philosophy are encouraged, while there is no emphasis on Bible study, and only a scant mention of religion. The authors suggest reading the Bible during history studies because it “ought to be treated as a serious philosophical document.”

There is legitimate cause for concern when a curriculum's focus is on mythology and philosophy rather than the Bible. Proponents of classical education defend the study of mythology (which is really the study of false gods, idols, and/or demons) by saying that the myths are an integral part of our Western literary heritage. (Rodd)

It is short-sighted to use the argument that children need to study mythology in order to be adequately aware of the world; the same argument would imply that our children should be immersed in books on New Age philosophies, astrology, witchcraft, reincarnation, or Harry Potter. A well-grounded Christian adult with discernment may safely choose to study these subjects, but we should be careful not to feed these as entertainment to our children. Jesus said, Therefore, be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).

2. Adoption of Classical Methods but Rejection of Classical Literature

Some using the classical approach avoid the pagan literature. There are Christian homeschoolers who use the classical approach because they view the Trivium— grammar, logic, and rhetoric—as a worthy form of structure, but reject the writings by pagan authors (which is somewhat like trying to order a cheeseburger without the cheese). There is nothing inherently wrong with acknowledging these three discernible stages of learning (grammar, logic, and rhetoric); it is only common sense that children go through certain basic learning stages that build upon each other. It seems somewhat ironic to me, though, that one would use classical methods designed by classical authors, but reject the classical authors' writings. I do, however, applaud their efforts to avoid evil.

3. Focus on the Classic Literature From a Critical Viewpoint

There are other Christians using the classical approach that focus on the Bible. They immerse students in the "Great Books of the Western World," but do so from a critical viewpoint–—to teach their children about the positive and negative influences these books have had on our culture—which is an understandable endeavor. But this too seems an irony—that one would use the classical methods designed by the classical authors to teach students the deficiencies of the writings of the classical authors. But I am glad to see they are evaluating the writings from the standpoint of Scripture.

Heart of Wisdom's Alternative

To ignore the classics would be like a doctor disregarding the symptoms of a serious disease. We need to understand the classics for ourselves and to teach our children the impact of these works on our history and philosophy. We can reject the classical teaching approach, as the Hebrews did, but study the impact of classical literature on our culture. Our children need to understand the world's philosophy so they can recognize and avoid it, just as a doctor must study in order to recognize disease. However, when a doctor studies a disease, he takes precautions lest he catch the disease. He does most of his studies at a distance. When he does examine a patient with the disease, he does so with limited exposure. We can teach spiritually mature students, from a biblical worldview, about the influences of the classical authors sufficiently, with historical analysis and brief excerpts, without immersing them in pagan writings. I don't accept any rationale to introduce these writings to young children. The Great Conversation: A Biblical Analysis of the Great Books of Western Civilization by Dennis Woods is a resource designed to introduce students to classical literature by analyzing classic literature excerpts from a biblical standpoint.

We understand this idea of "returning to a better way," but believe that, instead of returning to the ancient Greeks' ways, we need to return to the biblical model. Our only hope for stable, ongoing, integrated culture is placing the Word of God at the center of our thinking, speaking and acting. Study of literature and all literary arts must give place to the mastery of the Bible; and then they themselves become servants to the Word of God.

More Articles on the Hebrew vs Greek thought

John D. Beckett explains in his book Loving Monday: A biblical worldview has awesome implications for those of us in the secular, Greek-thinking West. As we allow it, the Bible speaks to us concerning government, economics, education, science, art, communications and business. Really, it speaks to all of life.

Abraham Joshua Heschel encapsulated this approach to study by saying that the Greeks study in order to understand while the Hebrews study in order to revere. God's Word and ways are ineffable: only by doing them can one understand them.

The Jewish Talmud tells a story of an elderly rabbi's counsel to his young nephew. The boy already knew the Torah, the Old Testament Law. Now he wanted to study the wisdom of the Greeks. The rabbi recalled God's words to Joshua: "You shall meditate on it [biblical law] day and night. Go, then," said the rabbi. "Find a time that is neither day nor night, and then learn Greek wisdom."

Like that rabbi, who put little stock in the value of studying Greek philosophy, Tertullian, an early Christian theologian, wrestled with the conflict in his day between Greek and Hebrew thought. He asked: "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" (Christian Overman, Assumptions That Affect Our Lives).

Is Your Homeschool Greek or Hebrew?

Take the test below. Place a check by each item that applies to your teaching methods, then add up the totals.

The Emperor is Naked!

The classical Greek approach focuses on
Greek literature and man's reasoning.

Ancient Hebrew methods focus on
God's Word and faith.

Why Go Back to the Ancient Greek Ways?
Why not Return to Biblical Methods?

Greek vs Hebrew Thought

Three Approaches to Classical Literature—and Our Alternative

1. Traditional Focus on Classics

2. Adoption of Classical Methods but Rejection of Classical Literature

3. Focus on the Classic Literature From a Critical Viewpoint

Heart of Wisdom's Alternative

More Articles on the Hebrew vs Greek thought

Want to Learn More?

Is Your Homeschool Greek or Hebrew?

A Hebraic- Greek Comparison

Hebraic Active

Greek Cognitive

Related Articles

Looking for Bible-Focused Methods?

The Emperor is Naked!

The classical Greek approach focuses on Greek literature and man's reasoning.

Ancient Hebrew methods focus on God's Word and faith.

Why Go Back to the Ancient Greek Ways? Why not Return to Biblical Methods?

Greek vs Hebrew Thought

Three Approaches to Classical Literature—and Our Alternative

1. Traditional Focus on Classics

2. Adoption of Classical Methods but Rejection of Classical Literature

3. Focus on the Classic Literature From a Critical Viewpoint

Heart of Wisdom's Alternative

More Articles on the Hebrew vs Greek thought

Want to Learn More?

Is Your Homeschool Greek or Hebrew?

A Hebraic- Greek Comparison

Hebraic Active

Greek Cognitive

Related Articles

Looking for Bible-Focused Methods?

The classical Greek approach focuses on
Greek literature and man's reasoning.

Ancient Hebrew methods focus on
God's Word and faith.

Why Go Back to the Ancient Greek Ways?
Why not Return to Biblical Methods?