Anchored by the Classic Learning Test Classical Skills for the Modern World | Todd Bates
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Sep 25, 2025 Dr. Todd Bates, founding president and professor of humanities at Christ College in Satellite Beach, shares insights on classical education and its relevance today. He recounts his journey from a shallow Christian upbringing to a passion for theological study. Todd emphasizes the integration of great books with entrepreneurship, arguing that an entrepreneurial mindset serves a Christian vocation. He advocates for small class sizes and deep faculty-student relationships, aiming to foster meaningful work in a modern educational landscape.
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Conversion Shifted His Life's Purpose
- Todd Bates describes a sudden spiritual conversion during a dark season after football ended that redirected his life's aim toward knowing God.
- He immediately dove into theology and made knowing God his primary lifelong pursuit.
Great Books Sparked A College Vision
- Todd recounts how teaching a great books program at Criswell ignited his love for classical liberal arts education.
- Reading Plato's midwife metaphor inspired him to pursue education that elicits truth through questioning and dialogue.
Humanities And Entrepreneurship Unite
- Christ College combines great books humanities with entrepreneurship to teach students to see human needs and design solutions.
- The curriculum trains students to identify genuine human goods and apply entrepreneurial problem-solving toward them.
