Christendom College has launched a new, seven-part course titled “Education at the Crossroads” on its free online learning platform. Taught by Christendom College professor Dr. Jon Kirwan, the course explores the crisis in modern education and offers a clear path forward on how to restore the Great Tradition of Catholic education for the next generation.
Across seven free lessons, participants will learn about the progressive revolution brought by 20th-century thinkers John Dewey and Edward Thorndike—from pragmatism to modern ideological shifts—that has reshaped today’s schools, replacing the pursuit of truth with social engineering and industrial efficiency. By exploring the prophetic warnings of the Church and the wisdom of great traditional thinkers, participants will then rediscover a spiritual vision of learning as a pilgrimage toward God, with Kirwan providing a staunch defense of Catholic education.
Kirwan holds a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Oxford and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts. His academic expertise centers on 20th-century French Catholic thought, and he is the author of two scholarly books in the field. Before completing his doctoral studies, Kirwan taught for many years in K–12 education, serving communities in South Los Angeles, the Navajo Indian Reservation, and East Africa. Kirwan serves Christendom as the Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies, Director of the Center for Educational Philosophy and Leadership, and Associate Professor of Theology. He previously served as Associate Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where he directed both the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program and the Master of Arts in Theology program.
Accessible on desktop and mobile devices, Kirwan’s course launches with the first two lessons available immediately, and the remaining five will be released weekly through July 2.
“Education at the Crossroads” joins several other free courses available on Christendom’s online learning platform, including Professor Mary Stanford’s “Theology of the Body” course, Dr. Andrew Whitmore’s “Becoming a Saint: Wisdom from Aquinas to Grow in Virtue” course, and Dr. Mark Wunch’s “Proving God’s Existence.”
Intended to help people everywhere come to better know and love the Catholic Faith, Christendom’s online platform also features other courses such as “The Principles of Catholic Bioethics,”“Understanding Human Nature,” “Christ: The Center of History,”“Foundations of the New Testament,” and many more.
This initiative reflects Christendom’s longstanding mission to form lay Catholics in the truths of faith and reason and to equip them to live out the truth with confidence and clarity. Through these free online courses, even more people now have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and grow in holiness—at no cost.
To explore the platform and enroll in “Education at the Crossroads,” visit here.
View the course trailer below:
