At The Classical Institute, the Short Seminar Series offers concise and focused explorations across theology, philosophy, language, and culture. Each short series introduces key ideas, figures, and traditions that have shaped human understanding across civilisations. Designed to be accessible yet intellectually rigorous, these seminars open pathways into the classical world of thought, inviting learners to engage critically with enduring questions of meaning, faith, and reason. Through brief but profound study, participants gain perspective, clarity, and an appreciation for the unity of knowledge that underpins the intellectual heritage of East and West.
Exploring Ideas That Shaped Civilisations
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Sophocles’ Antigone and Obedience to the Law
This four-part seminar series, led by John Claughton, explores the intellectual flowering of 5th century BCE Athens, when history, drama, and philosophy first emerged as distinct forms of enquiry. A former Chief Master of King Edward’s School and a leading classicist, John Claughton brings decades of experience in teaching Greek literature, thought, and history, with a deep interest in the moral and political ideas that shaped the classical world.
Seminar Two: Sunday 16th November | Registration Open
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Concepts of the Divine: Theology Across the Abrahamic Traditions
This four-part seminar, led by Dr Stephen Ballentyne, explores how ideas of the Divine have developed across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From early Israelite thought to theological reflection in later traditions, participants consider attributes such as unity, mercy, and transcendence, reflecting on how these enduring themes shape faith and philosophy across time. Together, these explorations reveal a shared heritage that continues to shape our understanding of the Divine.
Seminar One: Saturday 30th November | Registration Open
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The Homeric Gods and their First Philosophical Critics
This four-part seminar, led by Dr Simon Trépanier, Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Edinburgh, explores how early Greek thinkers began to question and reinterpret traditional conceptions of the Divine. From Xenophanes’ critique of Homeric anthropomorphism to Heraclitus’ synthesis of divine order and natural law, participants trace the beginnings of philosophical theology in early Greece. Their ideas reshaped faith and reason.
Seminar One: Saturday 06th December | Registration Open
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Spiritual Dimensions of Christianity
This six-part seminar series, led by Carol Mayes, Visiting Chaplain at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, examines the spiritual, theological, and experiential dimensions of Christianity with depth and critical insight. Through close engagement with scripture, doctrine, and practice, participants explore prayer, contemplation, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit as enduring forces within the Christian tradition. The series invites rigorous reflection on how these spiritual realities shape identity, community, and the pursuit of holiness in a changing world.
Seminar One: Thursdays 4th December | Registration Opening Soon