Classical Thought | New Saint Andrews College

At New Saint Andrews College’s Disputatio, the Director of the Hale Institute, Jeff Shafer, delivers a powerful talk on the legal and philosophical battle against gender ideology. Among other cases, he examines the lawsuit of Clementine, a young woman suing the medical professionals who pushed her into irreversible gender treatments before age 14. Her case exposes the reckless system enabling medicalized gender transitions for minors and the broader implications for law, morality, and societal order. Shafer explores how law has been weaponized to advance gender ideology—and how it can be reclaimed to restore truth and sanity. With insights into President Trump’s executive actions and the growing legal pushback, this discussion highlights the urgent fight to defend truth.

For more information about the Hale Institute, go to: https://www.haleinstitute.org/

For more information about New Saint Andrews College, go to: https://www.nsa.edu

Join us for a disputatio lecture by Vishal Mangalwadi, an acclaimed author, philosopher, and social reformer known for his exploration of the Bible's influence on cultures and civilizations. He appeared in Jordan Peterson’s 2023 documentary film “Logos & Literacy.” He has lectured worldwide, advocating the transformative power of biblical principles in shaping societies. His notable works include The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization, Truth and Transformation: A Manifesto for Ailing Nations, This Book Changed Everything: The Bible's Amazing Impact on Our World, Corruption-Free: A Vision for a New India, and The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture.

Learn more about NSA here: https://nsa.edu 

In this Disputatio address, Andy Naselli inspires the NSA student body and faculty to embrace reading as a transformative pursuit. Naselli dismantles the notion of becoming a mere hoarder of knowledge who gorges on information. Instead, he calls for a deeper vision: becoming the kind of reader who is fully human, informed by truth, and alive to the wisdom of the ages. Reading, Naselli argues, is not just about knowledge—it’s about building character, competence, and humanity in every area of life. Learn how to read a book, and in doing so, learn how to live.

Apply to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/apply

Give to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/give 

Colin Redemer’s Disputatio address at NSA explores Aristotle's three types of friendship—homonoia (basic alliance), usefulness, and pleasure—illustrated through Ratatouille. He emphasizes Aristotle's highest form: synesthetic friendship, where friends share a deep perception of being, seeing the world through each other's eyes. This unity transcends mutual benefit or enjoyment, fostering true understanding. Redemer highlights how such friendships can restore shared societal values and address modern moral fractures. He suggests cultivating these friendships is key to regaining a common vision for culture and governance, echoing C.S. Lewis's insights on friendship as a transformative, side-by-side pursuit.

Apply to NSA at: https://nsa.edu/apply

Give to NSA at: https://nsa.edu/give 

We had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Simon Kennedy, who offered an insightful critique of the pedagogy behind Christian Worldview instruction. Dr. Kennedy suggests that "worldview" terminology may be less effective for academic Christian formation, advocating instead for an approach centered on the language of enculturation in wisdom.

Apply to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/apply

Give to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/give

In the second part of his lectureship series, C.R. Wiley warns of modern threats to faith, autonomy, and integrity posed by AI, consumerism, and secular institutions. He urges Christians to reclaim the household as a resilient, God-centered economic unit, countering modern idolatry and dependence. Drawing from early Christian ascetics like St. Anthony, Wiley highlights the discipline and intentional self-denial needed to resist cultural decay. He sees these practices not as retreat but as purposeful engagement, cultivating freedom from sin and readiness for God. Wiley challenges believers to reclaim agency, rooting their households in productive work and spiritual fortitude to face an increasingly dystopian future.

Apply to NSA at: https://nsa.edu/apply

Give to NSA at: https://nsa.edu/give

In this disputatio address, President Benjamin Merkle exhorts students to pursue ambition in their vocations, aiming beyond employment to transformational influence in spheres like politics, industry, and the arts. NSA strives to develop leaders, not just participants, prepared to shape culture. While some leadership gains public recognition, much remains unnoticed, mirroring Hebrews 11's hall of faith. This distinction doesn’t lessen the call to ambition. Dr. Merkle underscores NSA's mission as uniquely suited for preparing graduates to assume disproportionate influence, urging them to pursue this task with determination and courage.

Learn more about NSA here: https://nsa.edu

At New Saint Andrew’s College’s Reformation Banquet 2024, Dr. Timothy Harmon delivered a stirring address titled “The Sovereignty of God.” Harmon emphasized the Reformation as a profound example of God's sovereign work in "mortification and vivification"—the death of sin and rising to a new life. He described God's sovereignty through creation, providence, and grace, stressing that God's governance is limitless and independent. Through the names God reveals and His works, Harmon explained, humanity discovers its relation to the Creator, gaining true reform and renewal through submission to His dominion.

Apply to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/apply

Give to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/give

In his talk, "Everyman's Guide to Protestant Political Theory," Dr. Joe Rigney emphasized the need for a robust understanding of natural law within a Protestant framework. He critiqued modern interpretations that fail to uphold clear distinctions between moral principles, arguing that the state's role should protect marriage by criminalizing sexual immorality. Rigney praised classic Protestant political thought for combining biblical principles with practical wisdom, allowing for a robust approach to governance. He underscored the importance of individual conscience in political theory, contrasting it with Catholicism's hierarchical structure, and concluded by advocating for a collaborative relationship between church and state.

Apply to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/apply

Give to NSA here: https://nsa.edu/give

The Hale Institute hosted Dr. Paul Miller, who spoke on the subject of 'Just War Theory." In this talk, Miller explores the evolving dynamics of just war theory in relation to individual rights and international law. He discusses the transformation from state-centric war to a focus on individual dignity, emphasizing the need for governments to wield military power responsibly. Miller critiques contemporary conflicts, arguing for an "Augustinian liberalism" that blends traditional just war principles with a modern understanding of humanitarian intervention. He advocates for post-conflict reconstruction and the moral imperative to uphold justice, peace, and individual dignity in warfare, providing a compelling vision for statecraft in the free world.

Learn more about the Hale Institute here: https://www.haleinstitute.org/