Ancient Course - 9th Grade

This recommended reading list is based on two assumptions: first, that the class meets twice a week, with more time to read and prepare available for the first discussion than the second. Secondly, this course assumes two 18-week semesters. Educators may tailor these recommendations to fit their own schedules.

Because our mission is to apply the Christian worldview to the great conversation, we begin each year by assigning books designed to encourage students to better understand and apply the Christian worldview. These first few weeks establish an important foundation for students, reminding them that they are responsible for taking every thought captive for Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

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Reading List

• Week 1
• Worldview Academy Lecture Series - Worldviews.
  -watch "Introduction to Worldviews" lecture
• How to be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer-McCauley
  -read chapters 1-4
• Week 2
• How to be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer-McCauley
  -read chapters 5-12
• The Compact Guide to World Religions by Dean Halverson, ed.
  -read "Overview"
• Week 3
• The Compact Guide to World Religions Dean Halverson, ed.
  -read "How Can We Know the Bible is the Word of God?"
• "Simple Tools for Brain Surgery" by Bill Jack
  -watch entire video
• Week 4
• Darwin on Trial by Phillip Johnson.
  -read chapter 8
• Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
  -read chapters 1-4
• Week 5
• Perelandra by C.S. Lewis.
  -read chapters 5-12
• Perelandra by C.S. Lewis.
  -read chapters 13-17
• Week 6
• Creation and Change by Douglas Kelly.
  -read chapters 5-6
• The Epic of Gilgamesh.
  -read chapter 5
• Week 7
• The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
  -read chapters 1-2
• The Compact Guide to World Religions by Dean Halverson.
  -read chapter titled "Hinduism"
• Week 8
• Bhagavad Gita, translated by Franklin Edgerton.
  -read pages 1-60
• Bhagavad Gita, translated by Franklin Edgerton.
  -read pages 61-91
• Week 9
• Mythology by Edith Hamilton.
  -read chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 11
• Mythology by Edith Hamilton.
  -read chapters 13-14 and Part 7
• Week 10
• Works and Days by Hesiod.
• Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.
  -read pages 1-27 and pages 41-55
• Week 11
• The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton.
  -read chapters 1-4 and 15-16
• Iliad by Homer.
  -read Books 1-2
• Week 12
• Iliad by Homer.
  -read Books 3-7
• Iliad by Homer.
  -read Books 8-10
• Week 13
• Iliad by Homer.
  -read Books 11-15
• Iliad by Homer.
  -read Books 16-18
• Week 14
• Iliad by Homer.
  -read Books 19-24
• Odyssey by Homer.
  -read Books 1-3
• Week 15
• Odyssey by Homer.
  -readBooks 4-8
• Odyssey by Homer.
  -readBooks 9-10
• Week 16
• Odyssey by Homer.
  -readBooks 11-15
• Odyssey by Homer.
  -readBooks 16-18
• Week 17
• Odyssey by Homer.
  -readBooks 19-24
• The Compact Guide to World Religions by Dean Halverson.
  -read chapter titled " Taoism"
• Week 18
• Tao Teh Ching trans. by John C.H. Wu
• FINAL EXAM
• Week 19
• What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula.
  -read all chapters except chapter 8
• The Compact Guide to World Religions by Dean Halverson.
  -read chapter titled " Buddhism"
• Week 20
• Oedipus Rex by Sophocles.
• Antigone by Sophocles.
• Week 21
• Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.
  -read Pages 56-93 and 104-139 in
• The Republic by Plato.
  -read Book 1
• Week 22
• The Republic by Plato.
  -read Books 2-3
• The Republic by Plato.
  -read Book 4
• Week 23
• The Republic by Plato.
  -read Books 5-6
• The Republic by Plato.
  -read Book 7
• Week 24
• The Republic by Plato.
  -read Books 8-10
• The Basic Works of Aristotle, ed. Richard McKeon.
  -read Book 1 in his Metaphysics
• Week 25
• The Basic Works of Aristotle, ed. Richard McKeon.
  -read Book 12 in his Metaphysics and Books 2-3 in Nicomachean Ethics
• The Basic Works of Aristotle, ed. Richard McKeon.
  -read Books 4 and 8-10 in Nicomachean Ethics
• Week 26
• The Basic Works of Aristotle, ed. Richard McKeon.
  -read Books 2 and 7 in Politics
• The Roman Way by Edith Hamilton.
  -read chapters 5-6
• Week 27
• Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
  -read Acts 1-3
• Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
  -read Acts 4-5 in Julius Caesar
• Week 28
• The Roman Way by Edith Hamilton.
  -read chapters 8-11
• The Aeneid by Virgil.
  -read Book 1
• Week 29
• The Aeneid by Virgil.
  -readBooks 2-4
• The Aeneid by Virgil.
  -readBook 5
• Week 30
• The Aeneid by Virgil.
  -readBooks 6-8
• The Aeneid by Virgil.
  -readBook 9
• Week 31
• The Aeneid by Virgil.
  -readBooks 10-12
• "Journey of the Magi" by T.S. Eliot
• Week 32
• The Gospel of John
• Early Christian Writings.
  -read Ignatius's Epistle to the Romans
• Week 33
• Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe.
  -read chapters 1-2
• Turning Points by Mark Noll.
  -read chapter 1
• Week 34
• On the Incarnation by Athanasius.
  -read Introduction, Life, and chapters 1-5
• On the Incarnation by Athanasius.
  -read chapters 6-9
• Week 35
• Turning Points by Mark Noll.
  -read chapter 2
• Roots of American Order by Russell Kirk.
  -read chapter 1
• Week 36
• Roots of American Order by Russell Kirk.
  -read chapters 2-3
• FINAL EXAM

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Links to other courses:

• Medieval
• Reformation & Enlightenment
• Modernity

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