Francis Scott Key, the author of “The Star Spangled Banner,” on the duties of the Christian patriot: “The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and will find His word in his greatest darkness ‘a lantern to his feet and […]
Category Archives: Tradition
How to Build the Perfect Castle
“This is Epic History TV’s guide to building the perfect castle, based on the development of European medieval castles over 400 years of history. We trace the origins of the castle in the feudal system that emerged in France c.900 CE, and look at the early motte-and-bailey castle, used by the Normans to subjugate England […]
The First Crusade (1096-1099)
Video Selections from Real Crusades History
[This is an archival repository of content previously published on the home page of Ryan Setliff under the topic Crusades Studies.]
Western Civilization is the best.
“I happen to be a big fan of Western civilization; I think it beats the hell out of tyranny and starvation.” —Jordan Peterson
Ryan Reeves’ Lectures on Medieval Times
This blog archive is a memorial to content originally curated on the main Ryan Setliff Online page under the Medievalist section from 2020 through December 16th, 2021; it captures the culture, life, and history of the ancient Celts of the British Isles (i.e., England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) as well as continental Europe:
Fealty
“The promise, made when I am in love and because I am in love, to be true to the beloved as long as I live, commits me to being true even if I cease to be in love. A promise must be about things that I can do, about actions: no one can promise to […]
The Authority of Scriptures
My Reformation Study Bible, ed. by R.C. Sproul, Sr., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995) exposits the crux of “The Authority of Scripture” (p. 1922). It succinctly notes: The Christian principle of biblical authority means that God is the author of the Bible, and has given it to direct the belief and behavior of His people. Our […]
A Review of the Benedict Option.
A Review of Rod Dreher, The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation (New York, NY: Sentinel, 2017) by Ryan Setliff. [originally published on November 2018] Here’s the Cliff Notes’ version of the Benedict Option; in case you missed the apologetic for the monastic trap; simply put, it’s a failed strategy of […]
Boredom, despair, and nihilism?
Boredom, civil strife, despair, and nihilism are the fruit of anti-civilization. In his poem The Hollow Man, T.S. Eliot wrote, “This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang but with a whimper.” Nevertheless the ancient light from the past as well as the faith of our forefathers gives us hope to escape […]