Thinking Class

 Professor James Clark is Professor of History at the University of Exeter and has published widely on medieval monasteries and their place in the medieval world and he was historical advisor on the BBC TV series Tudor Monastery Farm. His book, The Dissolution of the Monasteries: A New History was published in 2022 to widespread acclaim.  In this conversation, James and I talk about the impact of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in England, its historical significance, cultural impact, and the common misconceptions surrounding it, how important the role of monasteries were in everyday life, and the gradual impact of their dissolution on local communities,  why oversimplified narratives don't appropriately convey the depth of this pivotal moment in English history, and how society, spirituality, and community identity changed. James was erudite and lucid, even without heavy preparation, lots of  His responses came from the heart as well as the head. There were several moments where his answer took me down a thought process I haven't really been down before and it's those moments that you cherish in life.Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow James and his work at:X/TwitterJames’s bookYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Carl Trueman is Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. And he is the author of several books and perhaps best known for The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and The Road to Sexual Revolution. Karl is also the author of To Change All Worlds, Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse. In this conversation, Karl and I talk about why it is important to Unpack a topic, an idea, or a philosophy before criticizing it, why critical theory is a core area of focus for the right and a blind spot of the left. We explore its historical roots, how it evolved, and its implications for modern society as a widely used governing philosophy across various institutions, its inherent truths and contradictions, particularly regarding the nature of human relationships, human nature, and the sexual revolution; how social media primes users for a world designed by critical theorists, and how critical theory interacts with Christian and secular rationalist thought, and much, much more.You can also follow Carl and his work at:Carl Trueman’s booksFirstthings.comYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Hello, classmates, and welcome to Thinking Class. Today I'm speaking with, well, myself and you, dear listener. I'm a management consultant, podcaster, and proud Northumbrian, Englishman and Briton. I'm recording this episode to mark 50 episodes of Thinking Class and almost one year, and to reflect on what I've learned, which episodes have proven popular and why they spoke deeply to me, and what I've had to start telling myself, the deeper I have found myself getting into  the topics of this podcast. Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Spencer Klavan is a scholar, writer, and podcaster. A graduate of Yale, he earned his doctorate in ancient Greek literature from Oxford University. Spencer is the author of the acclaimed book How to Save the West, Ancient Wisdom for Five Modern Crises, and his latest release is Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science through Faith. Spencer is also the editor of Gateway to the Stoics, the host of the Young Heretics podcast, and associate editor of the Claremont Review of Books. And he has written for many outlets, including The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, City Journal, Newsweek, The Federalist, The American Mind, and The Daily Wire. In this episode, Spencer and I explore the significance of classical literature and philosophy in contemporary society, the importance of reconnecting with the wisdom of the past, what is behind the resurgence of interest in Stoicism, why moral relativism is a miserable philosophy with miserable outcomes, and why we need to rediscover timeless truths instead, the role of education in preserving cultural heritage, the need for a shared cultural language to navigate modern complexities, the transformative power of literature in understanding human nature and morality, the impoverished architectural landscape of modern cities, and Spencer's new book, where we talk about how science and faith can coexist, and much, much more. Where to find and follow Spencer Klavan:Young Heretics PodcastX/TwitterSubstackThe SpectatorPublished bookYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Dr. Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert is the director of the organisation Don't Divide Us. She is an educator, academic, author, and campaigner who believes passionately in the essential importance of impartiality. In this episode, Alka and I think out loud about the importance of recognising our common humanity amidst a sea of divisive ideologies, the various critiques of the current anti-racism movement and why Alka emphasises the need for a more universal and humanistic approach to governance, how the role of education and public policy shape societal attitudes, what the inherent dangers of multiculturalism are and its contribution to the rise of identity politics, and why Alka advocates for a return to democratic values and the importance of patriotism in fostering social cohesion and much much more.You can also follow Alka and her work at:X/TwitterDon't Divide UsYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

William Clouston is the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the United Kingdom. In this episode, William and I talk about the reasons behind the SDP’s resurgence, his personal political journey, what the current political landscape looks like in Britain, and why it’s hard to escape the feeling of civilisational decline in the country, how cultural identity is being undermined through ideological zeal, mass immigration, and multiculturalism, Britain’s immigration challenges and the SDP’s proposed solutions for immigration control, why the ruling class’s reluctance to align with public sentiment poses risks to societal stability, why William believes the SDP is the political vehicle that represents the views of the British public, why any new generation of politicians must address the failures of the current political class, and much more. Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow William at:X/TwitterYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Glen Scrivener is an ordained Church of England minister and evangelist who preaches through writing, speaking, and online media. Glen is also the director of Speak Life, and the creator of the 3-2-1 evangelism course.In this episode, Glenn and I talk about the profound impact of Christianity on Western values, the personal journeys that lead someone to faith, and the cultural shifts that have resulted in a meaning crisis, why it is important to understand the Christian story as foundational to human rights and societal values, how the Christian narrative provides a unique protection against tyranny and offers a framework for understanding human dignity and responsibility in a rapidly changing world and much, much more.Enjoy the show Classmates and don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow Glen and his work at:YouTubeX/TwitterSpeak Life3-2-1 CourseYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Philip Pilkington is a macroeconomist and investment professional, and he's also the host of the Multipolarity Podcast. In this episode, Phil and I talk about why European nations are struggling so much economically, and why the macroeconomic environment shows that we're in for a scary ride, how the European Union and the European Central Bank are intervening in national elections, why central banks are increasingly intervening in democratic elections or political office, what is stopping the UK and European nations from re-industrialising, potential pathways to re-industrialisation, how to address labour shortages and low birth rates without giving more immigration than people can live with, and why Phil keeps changing his mind on the European Union and much, much more. Enjoy the show class mates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also check Philip out at:X/TwitterUnherdSubstackYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Peter Hitchens is a columnist for the Mail on Sunday and a contributor to many other publications. He has published several books, mainly on aspects of what he regards as a cultural revolution which has transformed Britain for the worse in the last half century, and these include The Abolition of Britain and The Rage Against God. Peter has been a journalist for nearly 50 years, has reported from 57 countries, and was a resident correspondent in Moscow and Washington. Peter is a former revolutionary Marxist, who now describes himself as a socially conservative social democrat. In this episode, Peter and I talk about why being right and searching for the truth is not one in many friends, how British people are becoming less proud of their nation, why the First World War set in train a moral revolution in the British Isles, the rise of what Peter calls selfism, Why we are left guessing about how our leaders measure right and wrong now that the Christian faith is no longer our guiding ideal, how Britain courts economic catastrophe, and why the moral and political issues facing the country suggest a bleak future. We also talk about the need to be precise in our language so as not to inadvertently inflate an issue. And much, much more. Enjoy the show class mates.You can also check Peter out at:X/TwitterThe Mail On SundayAmazonYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Charlie Downes is the co-founder of the think-tank Centre for Migration Control, which is "committed to controlling and reducing immigration to the United Kingdom". In this episode, Charlie and I talk about why there is only a hair's breadth between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party on immigration policy; how the negative impacts of mass immigration can be seen in the crime statistics, the performance of the National Health Service, living standards, the tax bill of Britain's, and the changing landscape; how a combination of mass immigration and multiculturalism has left young British people without a sense of identity, and why this explains the rise of the 'Anglo-Zoomer'; how the Overton Window on how to respond to legal and illegal immigration has radically shifted now that deportation programs are being spoken of in the mainstream; and why Zoomers on the right do not buy into the doomerism that Britain is done and that their rise is inevitable, and much, much more.Enjoy the show Classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also check Charlie out at:Twitter/XCentre for Migration ControlYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack