A Classical Christian education goes beyond imparting knowledge in reading, writing, and arithmetic. It is not just limited to Christian education either, as it encompasses the formation of the human soul. The objective is to shape students who possess a love for the things that God loves. This requires a comprehensive approach that includes not only the curriculum and classrooms but also personal interactions and the culture we foster both at home and in school. It’s crucial to consider how we can assist Generation Z in organizing their affections and loves, so they pursue what is true, good, and beautiful while engaging with the world’s brokenness. This podcast episode covers essential topics that you don’t want to miss.

Biography: Dr. Joseph Clair

Joseph Clair serves as the executive dean of the Cultural Enterprise at George Fox University, which encompasses the humanities, theology, and education. He is also an associate professor of theology and culture.

Before joining the George Fox faculty in 2013, he earned his PhD in the religion, ethics and politics program at Princeton University while also working as an assistant in instruction. His efforts were rewarded with a Department of Religion Teaching Award (2011-12) and a Graduate Prize Fellowship from Princeton’s Center for Human Values (2012-13).

Prior to Princeton, Clair earned an MPhil at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. He also holds master’s degrees from Fordham and Duke University, as well as a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College.

His research and teaching interests include Christian thought and ethics and the role of religion in public life. He is the author of Discerning the Good in the Letters and Sermons of Augustine (Oxford UP, 2016) and Reading Augustine: On Education, Formation, Citizenship, and the Lost Purpose of Learning (Bloomsbury, 2018). Clair lives on a hobby farm outside of Newberg with his wife, Nora, and their four children.

Academic Background:
PhD, Princeton University
MPhil, University of Cambridge
MA, Fordham University
MA, Duke University