The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind

The next great philosopher in the tradition of western thought was Thomas Aquinas. As we survey his intellectual developments, we’ll address the following questions: Within the broad tradition of Christian scholars, what makes Aquinas so unique? What was Aquinas’ goal in examining and writing about even the most seemingly insignificant theological disputes? How does Aquinas explain the nature of evil? Recommended Reading: Snell, RJ. Lost in the Chaos: Immanence, Despair, Hope. New York: Angelico Press, 2023.

Maimonides arguably was the greatest philosopher of the twelfth century. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will help us unpack his legacy and address the following questions: Why was Maimonides’ codification of Jewish law so monumental? How did his system of codification diverge from the Talmud? How did Maimonides’ Guide to the Perplexed help push western philosophy forward? Why was The Guide to the Perplexed banned by some Jewish rabbis? Why was the ban ultimately lifted?

The Medieval Islamic world was very advanced in its scholarship and studies, and in some instances surpassed the scholars of Europe. As we survey some of the greatest Islamic thinkers, we’ll address the following questions: When and how did the Islamic philosophical tradition begin? What made the world of Medieval Islam so conducive to the study of philosophy? Why is Averroes seen negatively within the Christian philosophical tradition?

Life as a Jew in the Middle Ages was difficult across both Christendom and Islamic lands. To help us unpack the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How much truth is there to the notion that life for the Jews under Medieval Christendom was bleak? Why did distinctions between Sephardic and Ashkenazic traditions begin developing in this time? What fueled the many Jewish migrations across Europe? How does the Spanish Inquisition fit into the larger picture of persecution?

When it came to establishing the doctrine of the Catholic Church, there are few quite as important and influential as Augustine. To explore the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why are Augustine’s reflections on his childhood considered monumental? According to Augustine, what is the best way for a Christian to protect his soul? How can the Christian achieve immortality? How does Augustine reimagine history distinct from Herodotus and Thucydides? Recommended Reading: Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Translated by F.J. Sheed. Indiana: Hacket Publishing Company, 2006.

The disasters of the fourteenth century triggered reactions that involved and impacted the highest levels of the Roman Catholic Church. As we work through the topic, we’ll explore the following questions: How did the populace of Europe respond to the disasters of the fourteenth century? Why did religious reformers begin springing up around this time? How did the Church react to them? What were the goals of Gothic architecture?

The greatness of the thirteenth century will collapse into the disasters of the fourteenth. To explain the how and why of it, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions: Why did the price and wage controls not help the economic chaos following the Black Death? Why were the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries known as the Age of Parliament? What sparked the Hundred Years’ War?

The Middle Ages were marked by a contradiction between the stability of settling down and a dynamic spirit that inspired greatness. On today’s episode, we’ll uncover answers to the following questions: How did the Creation Mandate inspire Christians to start thinking beyond their horizons? Why does Medieval art depict figures who are clearly disproportionate? What was Gothic architecture trying to accomplish? What precipitated the Crusades? How were they a product of the restless Christian spirit? Recommended Reading: Urban II, Speech at the Council of Clermont

The tension between intellectual reason and divine revelation stands at the heart of the Medieval spirit of inquiry. As we explore that tension, we’ll unpack the following questions: Why did universities develop at this time? How were they different than the ancient academies? How did Christian thinkers begin employing philosophy to develop Christian doctrine? Why was scholasticism important towards building up intellectual life?

The Middle Ages will see the continued development of the relationship between God and man. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will discuss the following questions: What role did church and religion play in the day-to-day life of the layman of the Middle Ages? Why was religion as important for Jews as it was for Christians? Why was medieval Christian scholarship so focused on theology, and why did the Church come down so hard on what it perceived as heresies?