I was watching a Pleasing God DVD tonight by RC Sproul and he was contrasting the “separateness” of the pharisees from the non-conformity we’re called to. Theirs was external, not of the heart. They had the hand washing and tithing down, but neglected the weightier matters of the heart. He makes the point on this DVD that an excellent Christian education is not an education of only Christian works, but an excellent education from a Christian worldview. I agree with you absolutely on the Twilight series. I don’t think Christians have any business reading that stuff. But, I see Greek mythologies and some exposure to the “classics” as part of my children’s education. No, we don’t believe in them any more than we do Santa Clause, but these crazy myths have helped shape our Western culture, albeit for the worse. I want my kids to know where certain expressions and literary allusions come from. The Bible is our standard of truth and history is His story, all of it. His Providence takes the bad and works it for His glory.

I also think the critical point of view you mentioned is very important for older students. I will always be grateful that my dad read Darwin’s Origin of the Species with me when I was in 8th grade. I was persecuted by my science teacher for believing in a literal 6 day creation and rather than just thump his Bible, my dad suggested we look at it critically and helped me to discover the false presuppositions and irrational leaps of faith in the theory of the evolution of species. I was able to go on to earn a PhD in a science with my faith only strengthened in every class, because again I see science as the discovery of God’s creation and not in any way contrary to the Bible.

Thank you for sharing your list of books. I had many of the titles already and purchased several more. I studied Hebrew in college and am very interested in the Hebrew language and the connection between the Old and New Testaments. I can’t wait to get my new books!

Celee

Seems like every year the pressure to go back and conform to the pagan model of education places such pressure on us. Fear that our children will not measure up to the education system and standards (standards, yeah right!!) of this world is a fear most homeschool parents go through time after time.

Again, I must repent for “respecting” the educational gods of this world and allowing them to intimidate me back to the pagan pattern.

All over the country, even the world, God is calling HIS people OUT. He is calling us out of the murky waters of compromise and syncretism found not only in education but in churches that are becoming more and more liberal, corrupt politics, immoral entertainment… all over the world!

Does anyone else hear the cry of the spirit that we are hearing?…. “Who is on the Lords side, come out from among them and be ye seperate!” I believe its getting louder and louder.

Your website and articles have blessed us beyond words as God continues to confirm what we are hearing in our spirits.

Thank you!

Nor do we need the modern tracher of the classical approach (author of The Well Trained Mind) Susan Bauer’s ideas (rigid, stifling, harsh, severe, and downright boring) zapping all the fun out of learning.

Philo of Alexandria (and many others), a Hellenized Jew merged Hebrew mythical thought with Greek philosophical thought in the first century B.C. which resulted in almost 2000 years of pagan Christianity for the Catholics and a very distorted view for many protestants. Bauer doesn’t really try to merge the Bible- she just ignores it or misquotes it.