The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Welcome to The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind, a podcast that tells the story of the prophets, philosophers, and poets who created the West.
In this podcast, Rabbi Dr. Mitchell Rocklin guides listeners through more than 3,000 years of Western history, offering a coherent, civilizational story of how the West came to be—along with a deepened understanding of the challenges it now faces. While many of the texts discussed will be familiar to students of the humanities, Rabbi Rocklin offers a new framework for understanding them—a framework in which the teachings of the Jewish religious tradition play a central role. For, as Rabbi Rocklin explains, Western civilization can only be understood as the product of a transformative and ongoing collision between the great traditions of Jerusalem and Athens—between the religious spirit of the Jews and the philosophical spirit of the Greeks.
- Update frequency
- every 4 days
- Average duration
- 37 minutes
- Episodes
- 91
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Erasmus: Humanist and Reformer
Erasmus was arguably the greatest scholar and foremost humanist of the Northern Renaissance. As we learn more about him, we’ll explore the following questions:
- How was Erasmus’ Greek language schola…
Europe in Crisis: The Struggle for the Church
Political turmoil swept across Europe in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. To help us expand the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions:
- How did Luther’s approach to religiou…
Martin Luther: Reformer or Revolutionary
Few events in Christian history had a more dramatic impact than the Protestant Reformation. As we survey this seismic event, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions:
- How did the spirit of …
The Age of Exploration: Europe's Commerce and Classes
The spirit of discovery in the Renaissance will push Europe to expand its trade horizons and reshape its economy. On today’s episode, we’ll address the following questions:
- What were the technologic…
Of Kings, Nobles, and Commoners: The Emergence of the New Monarchs
Consolidation of power will dramatically alter politics, wars, and loyalties in Europe. To help us expand this notion, we’ll explore the following questions:
- What caused political power in Europe to…
The Northern Renaissance: Aesthetics, Mystics, and Humanists
The Northern Renaissance may be infused with the same spirit as the Italian Renaissance, but it manifested in uniquely northern European ways. On today’s episode, we’ll take a look at the following q…
To be Loved or Feared: Machiavelli and the Politics of Power
Modern politics cannot be fully understood without Machiavelli. To help us unpack this claim, Rabbi Rocklin will explore the following questions:
- How does Machiavelli shift the way that virtue is un…
Human Dignity: Petrarch and Pico della Mirandola
The notion of human dignity takes center stage as humanism comes to the fore with Petrarch and Pico. To help us explore the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- Why did Petrarc…
An Era of Rebirth: The Italian Renaissance
A new era dawns on history as the Renaissance begins. As we begin to explore this period, Rabbi Rocklin will help us answer the following questions:
- Can the Renaissance truly be characterized as a n…
Medieval Literature IX: Drama and Tales
Chaucer is arguably the most famous writer of the Middle English period. To give us a sense of his greatness, we’ll address the following questions:
- Since Chaucer was not the typical Medieval schola…
Medieval Literature VIII: Dante and Boccaccio
Dante and Bocaccio did more to develop vernacular writing than perhaps any other writers of their era. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions:
- To what extent should Dante be consi…
Medieval Literature VII: Medieval Chivalry III
Tales of knights, lords, and ladies have held a prominent position in the western imagination since they were first told. As we survey some of those tales, we’ll address the following questions:
- How…
Medieval Literature VI: Medieval Chivalry II
Passion, love, and romance take center stage in Medieval chivalric literature. As we survey some of the greatest works of that genre, we’ll find answers to the following questions:
- How does Tristan …
Medieval Literature V: Medieval Chivalry I
The tragic heroes of the classical era now give way to the new type of hero who will arise in Medieval literature. To help us explore this concept, we’ll unpack the following questions:
- What makes B…
Medieval Literature IV: Medieval Law and Love
The worlds of legal structures and romantic entanglements take a huge step forward during this time period. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions:
- How did Charlemagne…
Medieval Literature III: Aquinas
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 Ch…
Medieval Literature II: Maimonides
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 …
Medieval Literature I: Islamic Thinkers
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 …
Jews in the Middle Ages: Intellectual Life, Religion, and Persecution
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 Classical Christian: Augustine's Life and Legacy
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 questio…