Both have been used as the center piece for entire liberal arts curricula in major colleges. Both attempt to gather into
a single, obtainable collection, the greatest thinking of western history. Both attempt to focus on specific categories of
writing.
I have long wondered what a Christian set of such books would look like. Categories could be as follows:
- Theology
- Ethics
- Music
- Devotion
- History (including biography)
- Literature
I will post here my suggestion for the beginning of such a list, and ask others to add their suggestions. Here are the
guidelines I have set for myself:
- The works should be no less than 100 years old
- Individual works, rather than an author's complete works should be suggested
- The work should be of an enduring quality
- It should have applicability to disciples of Jesus that is not limited to denominational boundaries (though
they may be fundamental to a denomination's tenants)
- Suggestions should include both intellectually challenging pieces and pieces significant to the masses
- It should be original in its proposed ideas
- Suggestions should span the 2000 years of the faith in a somewhat balanced fashion
- The total list should be limited to 100 thousand pages (this may seem like a lot, but it isn't when you start dealing
in sets of books)
Most published sets I have seen wiegh heavily on popular and more recent writings. Here is the way I would begin this
collection
Without a doubt, the Bible, Old and New Testaments are essential and fit all the below categories - Volumes one and two.
Theology
Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas
Ethics
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a'Kempis
Music
The Messiah by Handel
Devotion
Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
History (including biography)
The Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius
Confessions by Augustine of Hippo
Literature
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Divine Comedy by Dante
Please feel free to submit suggestions. Individual hymns may be suggested under music. A collection of significant Christian
writings would not be complete without an incredible hymnary.
At some point I will publish new lists that include my own developing thinking, and the total suggestions of others.
