The Paideia of God: And Other Essays on Education

by Douglas Wilson

Paul requires Christian fathers to provide their children with a "paideia of the Lord." To the ancient world, the boundaries of paideia were much wider than the boundaries of what we understand as education. Far more is involved in paideia than taking the kids to church, having an occasional time of devotions in the home, or even providing the kids with a Christian curriculum. In the ancient world, the paideia was all-encompassing and involved nothing less than the enculturation of the future citizen. He was enculturated when he was instructed in the classroom, but the process was also occurring when he walked along the streets of his city to and from school. The idea of paideia was central to the ancient classical mind, and Paul's instruction here consequently had profound ramifications for how we in turn educate our children. In this collection of essays, Douglas Wilson discusses this and other education-related issues.

Genres: Education, Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Essays, Christianity, Parenting

150 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful. It is flat out shocking that Wilson wrote this in the 90s. This little book drips with prophetic prescience, and inspires a bit more confidence to divorce from worldliness in all its forms—especially its educational forms.

[Adam T. Calvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good collection of essays on an interesting array of issues in the realm of Christian education. Doulas Wilson, in his usual somewhat snarky style, provides a thoughtful Biblical analysis in the chapters as follows:

1. The Paideia of God
A foundational essay concerning the Biblical mandate and understanding of Christian education.

2. Teaching Disadilities: Why Johnny Doesn't Learn Much Anymore
An assessment of what constitutes learning disabilities and who is really responsible for them.

3. A Brief Statement Against Vouchers
A clear presentation of why a school voucher system ultimately will fail.

4. The Biblical Meaning of School Clothes
A great picture of teaching "the true, the good, and the beautiful," an assessment of how "the beautiful" somehow got left out of the picture in most of evangelicalism, and a defense of the distinctions even the Bible makes when it comes to clothing.

5. Does Classical Mean Reformed?
An honest answer to the question of why the classical Christian schools that are popping up for the most part seem to be Reformed in their theology.

6. The Great Logic Fraud
By far the most complicated chapter; but also one of the most profitable. Here logic is defended as tool to be used, but not as the end of all standards by which to measure. This essay also explores the nature of language and how it is learned. Truly, a very insightful essay. (But I'll have to read it again and again to understand all that was said.)

7. A Brief for Greyfriars Hall
A refreshing approach (and I would say alternative approach) to a seminary level education. Very thoughtful, and Biblically minded.

8. Why Evangelical Colleges Aren't
A short critique concerning the failure of most "Christian" colleges to actually be Christian in their thinking, teaching, and overall mission.

9. Classical Learning and the Christian College
A defense of epistemologically conscious Christian learning and for understanding and using the Bible as the only infallible guide in the education process.

I really enjoyed the whole book and will surely reference it frequently as I think more through these issues.

[Becky Carlan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I claim a love-hate relationship with Wilson, but this is more “hate”. If you see this title and anticipate that the book is a collection of academic essays on the art of classical education, you would be wrong. It is a hodgepodge of editorials by Wilson about educational topics. While Wilson is a success executive, principal, administrator, bureaucrat, possibly leader (I’ll leave that assessment to those he leads), he exposes a lack of proficiency in teaching, pastoring, and academia in these essays. The first is ok, but he manages to show contempt and speak in a highly reductive way about kids with disabilities, evangelicals, seminaries, teachers, mathematicians, and colleges, mostly showing what he himself does not understand. I wish he would stick to what he knows - writing about classical Christian education in a way that’s accessible and drop the know-it-all Renaissance man act.

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but dense. Wilson is on a way higher intellectual level than I. The way he writes is extremely convoluted with some notes of legalism. It was difficult to appreciate many of these essays because of that. In order to read this book, you need to have a certain level of knowledge on Christianity and theology. I can’t say I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in classical, Christian education as a starting point.

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good stuff. Disagree on some particulars here and there because I'm not coming at education from a strictly classical perspective, and think there are critiques to be made, but this was still a very well-written book.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of essays on Christian education. My overall takeaway would be to say that you really ought to have a thought-through reason for most of the things you do in education because if you don't, someone else will select the reason for you.

[Jennifer Brogdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the beginning chapters but ended up speeding through the later ones

[Sydney Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Will pull it off the shelf to read a couple of the essays over again some day.

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so I want to start out by saying I don't want to discount what Douglas Wilson has done for education and that I basically wouldn't have a job if not for the movement he has done so much to advance.
HOWEVER.
I was pretty unimpressed with a lot of this book. I have decided my feelings on Wilson are pretty similar to my feelings on Ayn Rand: I really like a lot of his ideas, he just takes them too far. I also feel like he likes pushing the envelope; that's not necessarily a bad thing. I just always get the feeling he's not happy unless he offends someone.

Some of the essays in this book were spot-on. His critiques of the state of American education are much appreciated. I was planning on giving this my top-of-the-bell-curve three star rating: not amazing, but enjoyable. There was one particular essay though that had so many factual errors I immediately lowered my mental rating. The essay dealt with science and math. He makes it clear that he is not a scientist or a mathematician, however I feel like in that case you must be extra careful about what you are saying. Relativity does not postulate five dimensions and colors of light do not mix the same way as colors of pigment. So I thought that was sloppy.

If you are in classical education (or interested in it), you should probably read this book. There are a lot of valuable insights in it. He just happened to hit on one of my pet peeves...

[Matthew Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book from Wilson. Though the collection as a whole did not focus on the idea of paideia proper as much as I expected, I was quite pleased by a number of his essays, particular those on learning disabilities, classical Christian education, and, interestingly, the importance of school clothes.

Not a slammer, but certainly a triple.

[Adam Callis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doug Wilson is always a mixed bag for me. I read this per the Classical Conversations book recommendations. It's a collection of essays, so naturally some are better than others.

The introductory essay on Paideia was interesting, if only for learning a new term.

The 2nd essay was mainly a rant on public schooling, and while I generally agree with his points, the tone hurt the message for me, particularly his descriptions of ADHD, dyslexia, etc.

The 3rd essay was a statement against school vouchers, and I think he made solid points.

The 4th essay was a Biblical look at random passages about clothing to make a case for school uniforms--this was easily the worst essay. Again, I pretty much agreed with his points, but his use of Scripture was really bad.

5th essay was a summary of Reformed theology, and Wilson argues that Classical education should generally be Reformed. He says Reformed theology is Orthodox, and that Evangelical aren't apostates, they're just confused on a few things. Again, his tone ruins the essay for me.

6th essay was about logic, math, philosophy, etc. Not sure how to review it because I'm not sure what he actually said.

7th essay was excellent--he argued that churches should step up in the work of raising up pastors in-house, rather than solely relying on Christian schools to send them people.

8th and 9th essays were also good--on the secular slide of many Christian colleges.

Decent book in places but glad to be moving on.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggle to articulate my thoughts on many of Doug Wilson's materials (whether books, blog posts, or lectures), and I am similarly torn as I try to respond to The Paideia of God. He has many good things to say that are worth considering, some positions that I disagree with but can understand and respect how he got there, and some assertions that I would argue are flat out wrong, needlessly provocative, and diminish his credibility. This book was predominantly the former, but there was enough of the latter that I am not sure he has a place in my education library.

[Will Dole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good essays - typical Wilson, I don't agree with everywhere he goes. But the pressing of "not whether, but which", the rejection of the idea that education can be agnostic, and (perhaps more surprisingly) his argument for school uniforms, was pretty good.

[Alexander Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilson, as always, is entertaining, winsome, and mostly correct. Chapter 6 was a dismal misunderstanding of both realism and nominalism (both can be done with God as the referent, but realism is consistent with universal truth, whereas nominalism rejects it). Wilson has changed his views on this, thankfully (see the introduction to Angels in the Architecture). In Chapter 7, Wilson gives many solid arguments for classical education in a Protestant context, yet he pushes the idea of antithesis too hard (the separation between Christian and non-Christian thought), which is typical of his Van Tilian influence. However, he definitely does not carry it as far as others, such as North, whom he criticizes. Overall, it is helpful, but The Case for Classical Christian Education is a more thorough overview of his thought.

[TJ Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays ranging from Christian education to school clothing. Similiar to his book "Excused Absence" but covering a wider variety of topics.

[Nathan Douthit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, although Wilson often over states his point. Mini things I disagree with, but the book was challenging and interesting as far as encountering a different viewpoint.

[Tony Lee Ross Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of essays regarding Christian education. The topics were always changing, so sometimes the book was hard to follow.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson makes a great deal of sense in this collection of loosely-related essays on education.

[Dr. Jon Pirtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more of Douglas Wilson's books I read, the more hope I have in the difference one courageous man, grounded in the truth, makes. Read Douglas Wilson's oeuvre.

[Patrick Porras]

Super helpful for a broad understanding of the needs for a distinctly Christian education

[Paul Kimbrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

I agree, we need to return to a classical form of Christian education. If we understand where we were, we can understand where we’re going as a faith and society.

[Jeremiah Whiteman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the intro and first chapter to be helpful and insightful. The rest didn’t mesh well or provide any balance to the book.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays on education. Some good, some meh.

[Timothy Dehne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff.

[Gelu Timoficiuc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Potent introduction to the christian worldview as it relates to formal education. The writing is both pleasant and rich.

[Mandie Saint-Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strongly opinionated book... not my fav

[Seth Mcdevitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you plan on going to seminary, or sending your children to college, this book will benefit you.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A foresighting of things to come, published in the previous century.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Wilson book I've read that I wasn't thrilled about. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good material in here and it is a valuable resource for any intro into educational reform. But the formatting of the writing really discounted the writing itself. Hard to follow, random topics every other page, random book critiques and a random defense of the doctrines of grace. Again, good material, just a complete lack of flow. "Why Evangelical Churches aren't" was by far the best chapter and it was quite fascinating to see the insite of Wilson on these topics almost 20 years before they are ubiquitously seen in the church today.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first full-length book on education by Wilson I've read. I caught an interview he did about a year ago talking about the Classical Education movement, and I am sold on it now. If one is at all interested in the Classical Methods or educational reform, that one needs to read this book.

I also must now read his others on education. In due time of course.

And in closing, the essay on the importance of school clothing was surprisingly informative and interesting.