An Invitation to Participate in the True Myth

What is the relationship between Christianity, myth, and classical education? In this interview with Louis Markos, Credo editor Connor Shackelford sits down to ask him just that. Louis is a Professor of English and Scholar in Residence at Houston Christian University, where he holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities. In these 10 questions, Louis reminds us that Christianity is the “true myth,” the true story that explains who we are and the world that we live in, and that this true myth is the foundation of classical education. Yet, the transcendental of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness can be found even in our fallen world in the classic works of antiquity. Classical education brings Athens and Jerusalem together for the Christian student so that we might grow in our knowledge of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.

I have heard you say before that classical education instills a humanistic view of man and society, one that is based on the image of God in man. What exactly is it about classical education that upholds the imago Dei?

To say that we are made in the image of God is to say at least two things: first, that we possess reason, consciousness, conscience, and volition; second, that we have inherent value and worth. Classical education pays homage to these great truths by treating young students as being capable of growing in wisdom and virtue and as deserving treatment as unique individuals rather than objects of social engineering.

You claim that “Christianity is the only complete truth.” Yet that implies some truth remains in the world of the pagans or non-Christians. So, does classical education need to be explicitly Christian, or can/should we use other resources that are not explicitly Christian

What makes classical Christian education the best education available is its ability to draw wisdom and virtue from both the pagan classics and the Bible. Classical Christian education passes down the legacy of both Athens and Jerusalem and is stronger for it. It understands that the general revelation stored in the best of pagan literature points towards the special revelation of Christ and the Bible.

What are the transcendentals (Truth, Goodness, and Beauty) and is there classical education without them? 

Classical education rests on a firm belief that there are absolute and transcendent standards of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty that must guide us in our educational enterprise. That does not mean that classical Christian educators are in possession of the perfect Truth. But it does mean that they acknowledge the existence of that Truth and seek to use it as the guiding star of education. Classical education rejects philosophical, moral, and aesthetic relativism.

Why is “myth” so important to the transcendentals? 

Myth is often the vehicle by which Truth, Goodness, and Beauty make themselves known in our fallen world. We are all part of the great myth that God is writing in our world and in us, which is the overarching metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption, reconciliation, and glorification.Classical Christian education passes down the legacy of both Athens and Jerusalem and is stronger for it. Click To Tweet

What does Tolkien mean by “the true myth” and why is it important to teach students that Christianity is the true myth?

The amazing thing about the Gospel story is that it is historically true, it happened at a specific time and place, while also being mythical. When I use “mythical” in this way, I do not mean false or untrue, but rather a story that reveals the truth about our world and about us. The incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ happened in history, but it resonates in our imagination in the way myths do, pointing to the transcendentals of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Classical education invites its students to participate in that true myth.

Which myths have had the greatest impact on classical education?

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is a great myth about the goal and direction of classical education. True education liberates its students from the dark ignorance of the cave and leads them towards the light of truth and reality. Another myth that resonates with classical education is Hercules at the crossroads. When still a young man, Hercules was approached by two women at a crossroad: one woman was dressed in scarlet and encouraged Hercules to take the easy path to success; the other woman was dressed in white and encouraged him to follow the harder path of virtue. Hercules, one of the Christ figures of ancient Greek myth, rejected the scarlet woman and chose the path of virtue. Likewise, classical education seeks to instill wisdom as much as virtue in students.Classical education rejects philosophical, moral, and aesthetic relativism. Click To Tweet

How does classical education instill virtue in society or even recover virtue for a society that has moved away from classical education? 

Classical education understands and imparts that virtue is more than a series of do’s and don’ts. Virtue means aligning oneself with the truth about God, man, and the universe. Classical education instills both the cardinal virtues of courage, wisdom, self-control, and justice (which were known to higher pagans like Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero) and the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love (which awaited the full revelation of Christ and the New Testament—see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Classical education instills both the cardinal virtues of courage, wisdom, self-control, and justice and the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. Click To Tweet

What role does the imagination play in classical education?

C. S. Lewis once wrote that reason is the organ of truth, but imagination is the organ of meaning. Imagination takes that which is true and implants it in our heart, soul, and strength. Imagination makes virtue real and concrete and inspires us to action. Classical education does more than teach facts to students. It makes those facts come alive in a life of virtue as well as eloquence.

If you could have your students only read 3 classic works, what would they be and why?

Well, let me choose three classical genres that they must read and reflect on. First, the epics: Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, and Divine Comedy. These teach supremely what it means to be human. Second, the tragedies: Oedipus, Antigone, and Hamlet. These speak to the importance of choice and the consequences of our choices. Third, philosophy: Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. These teach us how to understand and fulfill our duty.

Photo Credit: Carole Raddato