Joshua Gibbs

Numerology In Paradise Lost

Book III: God first appears/Three is the number of the Trinity Book IV: Man first appears/Four is the number of man, the earth Book VII: Creation is first described/Seven days in the creation week Book VIII: Sex is first described/Eight is the number of new beginnings Book XIII: The twelve tribes of Israel are firstContinue reading “Numerology In Paradise Lost”

Megachurching Classical Christian Schools

“Classical Christian education has gotten popular enough that we’re probably only a few years away from naming schools Lift, Summit, Impact, Sponge, or whatever church names are fashionable at the time… A good many classical Christian schools already style themselves after megachurches. They talk about “taking over this city for Christ,” have dope Instagram accounts,Continue reading “Megachurching Classical Christian Schools”

Film As Metaphysical Coup

“As I near my 40s, the most fundamental question I ask when my wife and I are deciding what movie to watch on an evening is not “Drama or Comedy?” Neither do I first ask, “New movie or old movie?” Rather, the first pebble we drop down the well of our souls is, “Something weContinue reading “Film As Metaphysical Coup”

Too Catholic: A Classical Odyssey

“It is probably safe to assume that every classical Christian school in the country sees itself as the rival of some better funded, more liberal Christian school across town.” Too Catholic: A Classical Odyssey is now available on the CiRCE website. This piece originally appeared in an issue of FORMA several years ago, but thisContinue reading “Too Catholic: A Classical Odyssey”

Speaking Event Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will be speaking at the CiRCE regional conference in Sterling, Virginia. It’s not too late to sign up for Saturday’s block of lectures, if you would like. I will be giving a lecture which reflects on what I’ve learned about human nature from teaching short fiction workshops to high school students.

Progress

Boys in 8th grade Latin classes: “When are we actually going to use this in the real world? Boys in 12th grade: “I wrote my thesis on why travel soccer players should be paid in cryptocurrency.”

A Little Help From My Friends

Readers, if you teach at a private Christian school where seniors are required to write a thesis, I am curious to know what sort of subjects your seniors are presenting on. If you are willing to share them, I would love to look over a list of senior thesis statements/subjects from the last several years.Continue reading “A Little Help From My Friends”

Oat Milk, Goat Milk, Boat Milk

Tom: What do you take in your coffee? Harry: I’m allergic to cow’s milk. What else do you have? Tom: I’ve got oat milk. Harry: I don’t like the taste. Tom: I’ve got goat milk. Harry: It’s so expensive. Tom: I’ve got boat milk. Harry: Boat milk? What’s that? Tom: It’s part of Lockheed Martin’sContinue reading “Oat Milk, Goat Milk, Boat Milk”

The American Version Of Submission

Michel Houellebecq’s Submission (2015) is the story of a secularist college professor named François who must figure out what he actually stands for after France is (mostly) peacefully, democratically overtaken by Islamists and something like Sharia law is imposed. His university gives him a generous severance package, but offers him even more money if heContinue reading “The American Version Of Submission”

Cultivate Virtue, But Get Real

Student: I’m worried that our class just isn’t moving fast enough through the material. We’re not getting much done. Teacher: Well, a classical education isn’t about covering material. It’s about cultivating virtue. Student: No one is cultivating virtue in your class. That’s the problem. You spend so much time every day lecturing the boys onContinue reading “Cultivate Virtue, But Get Real”