We’re All Goldfish
About a year ago, I came across an article proclaiming Aayan Hirsi Ali as a Christian now. I only knew her as an outspoken ex-Muslim atheist from the books I had read. She has been considered the fifth horsemen of the four horsemen of the atheist apocalypse. As I listened to her interview outlining her spiritual journey, she mentioned an instrumental work contributing to her newfound faith, Dominion, by Tom Holland. If this book could change this academic’s mind about faith, it must be unique. Hollands’ book did not disappoint, as I devoured it over the holidays last year.
Where to begin? One of the most credible aspects of this book was Tom Holland’s starting point as an intellectual agnostic who assumed the Western conscience was shaped by anything other than the Judeo-Christian faith. Holland proposes that Western assumptions like: “You can’t treat people like that.” “Everyone should have equal rights!” “All life is sacred” and “That group of people matter, too!” are deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian beliefs. This means whether a person is an atheist, religious, liberal, conservative, humanist, feminist, or traditionalist, they all process their morals and ethics within and through a Judeo-Christian matrix. Holland claims we’re 
all like goldfish swimming in the same water without knowing it.
“That every human being possessed an equal dignity was not remotely self-evident truth. A Roman would have laughed at it…The origins of this principle, as Nietzsche had so contemptuously pointed out lay not in the French Revolution, nor in the Declaration of Independence, nor in the Enlightenment, but in the Bible.”[i]
That said, Holland also points out that there has always been a struggle between the “letter of the law” and the “Spirit of the law.” The Letter of the Law approach points to Scripture and says look, tradition clearly says this about women, slavery, church leadership, homosexuals, divorce, etc., while the Spirit of the Law approach says, yes, but does this square with the compassion and life of Jesus or Paul’s teaching on being led by the Spirit, or Hebrews proclamation that God’s law would be written on our hearts and minds? There has always been a push and pull of tradition and experience. Tom claims, “There had always existed, in the hearts of the Chris
tian people, a tension between the demands of tradition and the claims of progress, between the prerogatives of authority and the longing for reformation, between the letter and the spirit of the law.[ii] He mentions a paradox embedded within the faith. Part of the nature of the Judeo-Christian tradition has always been to challenge aspects of itself. We need BOTH. Go figure.
What is tricky is that legal or literal approaches to tradition usually have the “better arguments.” You just point, click, and say, “There it is.” Simple. However, this method does not always fit our experiences or “Western conscience” as new contexts and situations arise. The New Testament models this tension a few times as the Gospel expands into Gentile territory. Now, what do we do? If we’re honest, there is a lot of “contextualizing” when attempting to advocate for changes in gender roles in leadership or the home, claim slavery as immoral, justify pluralism, approve same-sex marriage, or permit divorce as the best option when certain verses seem clear on or indifferent to these issues. There was a woman at our church who told us that her husband had been abusing her and her daughter physically and verbally for years. However, they endured it because she knew what the Bible said about divorce. It took hours of getting to the heart of the Gospels’ nature and teaching on this to ease her conscience enough to reevaluate her domestic situation. The same thing happened with a Pastor’s wife I knew, who came to the faith later in life. It took a lot of explaining about culture and context from her preacher Father-in-law to relieve her crippling fear that she was going to hell since she had remarried after a divorce. She kept thinking, “Yeah, but it says…”.
Stories like these are huge motivators for my NPO project. While in Washington, DC, at the African American History Museum, I saw a book titled “The Negro A Beast,” or “In The Image of God”.[iv] It has nearly four hundred pages of Biblical support on why African Americans are not made in God’s image and are not genuinely human. It’s bizarre and unsettling. Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, gives his biblical support in his book The Jews and Their Lies for burning the homes, writings, and synagogues of non-Messianic Jews.[v] He also recommended their access to roads be restricted, their usury be prohibited, and they be forced into hard labor. Why didn’t the Bible alone nurture compassion or religious tolerance in him and others? Why isn’t it still today? Our religious history is beyond complex, and it shows what happens when the heart and Spirit of Jesus are not at the very center of our interpretations. After all, Christ said to wait for his Spirit, and his Spirit would lead us into all truth. According to the evidence throughout this book, compassion for all seems to be the fruit and product of the Christian Spirit pulling our culture forward.
I say all this to applaud Tom Holland for giving an honest assessment of Judeo-Christian’s paradoxical history and for pinpointing some critical things. He acknowledges the faith’s significant impact and beauty while recognizing its darker sides. He showcases Christianity’s influence on social security systems, academics, hospitals, infant rescue, pluralism, liberalism, and social justice issues like women’s liberation, the abolition of slavery, and stopping widow burnings in India. He also acknowledges the violence and oppression the faith has contributed to for a number of reasons. There was a time in my Christian journey when I could only see the good and downplayed “the bad” stuff in my faith’s history, and another season when I only seemed to notice the bad and overlooked the good. I appreciated what felt like a balanced appraisal, which ironically caused me to value my faith more than ever. I can’t overemphasize how important this approach is for many people today. It seemed to help Aayan Hirsi Ali.
Dominion also expanded my perspective concerning the cross. Holland explains that the cross was not only a torture device for death but a public billboard that Rome used to display its might, power, and strength. Holland says the cross Jesus hung on displayed another message: “that God was closer to the weak than to the mighty, to the poor than to the rich. Any beggar, any criminal, might be Christ. ‘So the last will be first, and the first last.’” [vi] This gave me a deeper understanding of Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 1:23, “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” This picture of Jesus hanging on a Roman cross and all that it represents illustrates a scandalous idea that God identifies with the lowly of the world and used this event to turn the system upside down, which is precisely what happened historically. A unique and otherworldly Spirit began expanding like never before in the West and throughout the earth. I love that the book thoroughly illustrates how we, as Westerners, Christian or not, are oblivious to the fact that God’s plan of bringing the “kingdom on earth” is working in ways we might not suspect.
Participating in this life-changing program with you all has been a pleasure!
[i] Holland, Tom. Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind. Paperback edition. London: ABACUS, 2020, 478.
[ii] Ibid., 514.
[iv] Charles Carroll, The Negro a Beast; or, In the Image of God (Forgotten Books, Classic Reprint Series, 2018).
[v] Luther, Martin, and Tryntje Helfferich. The Essential Luther. Hackett Classics Ser. Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Incorporated, 2018, 298-300.
[vi] Holland, Dominion, xxi.
About the Author
Adam Harris
I am currently the Associate Pastor at a church called Godwhy in Hendersonville, TN near Nashville. We love questions and love people even more. Our faith community embraces God and education wholeheartedly. I graduated from Oral Roberts University for undergrad and Vanderbilt for my masters. I teach historical critical Biblical studies at my church to help our community through their questions and ultimately deepen their faith. I love research, writing, learning, and teaching. I oversee our staff and leadership development. Before being at Godwhy I worked as a regional sales coach and director for Anytime Fitness. I've been married for over 13 years to my best friend and we have two amazing boys that keep us busy.7 responses to “We’re All Goldfish”
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Great post, Adam. You quote Holland saying, “There had always existed, in the hearts of the Christian people, a tension between the demands of tradition and the claims of progress, between the prerogatives of authority and the longing for reformation, between the letter and the spirit of the law.” This certainly comes into play in my NPO project, where I’m aiming to help Christian parents adopt a more neuro-intelligent approach to parenting. The old “spare the rod” approach is still common in my context and, as you mention, theology and its applications are about so much more than, “But the Bible says…”
Thank you for the work you’re doing, Adam.
Thanks Kim, Tom really articulated some dynamics I’ve noticed over the years while reading through church history and even more what I’ve noticed in our own time. The tension between the letter and the Spirit of the law is real. One is much more difficult to explain and navigate but it is necessary to advance. Appreciate the work you are doing as well, Kim!
HI Adam,
What a great post!
During the election one of my bible study men asked, “Are you fearful of what might happen?” Men raised their hands. He replied, “God has got this. If he can use Nebuchadnezzar and Darius, then he can certainly use whoever is sitting on the Presidential throne.
I was released from worry, knowing that God IS IN CONTROL!
In the same vein I so loved your statement.
You wrote, “A unique and otherworldly Spirit began expanding like never before in the West and throughout the earth. I love that the book thoroughly illustrates how we, as Westerners, Christian or not, are oblivious to the fact that God’s plan of bringing the “kingdom on earth” is working in ways we might not suspect.”
We to often forget that God has got this!
Shalom, Shalom
Thanks, Russell, this book really got me thinking. You know I’ve been a fan of Holland’s for about a year now. It shows the plan worked and is still working. You are right, God is in control and I don’t think we really comprehend the reality of “his ways are higher than ours”. We can’t control everything, but we do have access to the type of peace Jesus had during the storm. Thanks for the response my friend.
I knew that your post would be phenomenal. You have been studying Holland for three years. I have learned so much from you. I am looking forward to seeing what God will do in your life and ministry. It has been an honor.
Wow, Adam. What a great unpacking of Holland and connection to your NPO. I know we’ve talked some about your project, but this post helped me understand it even more clearly and helped me over the speedbump of some outstanding questions I had (while bringing up a few more lOL).
I’m going to miss reading your posts. I hope you write more and publish so I can keep learning from you.
Hi Adam,
I’ve been looking forward to reading your post (and the book) as I’ve enjoyed your comments and excitement about Dominion for some time. The book did not disappoint. My husband started reading it out loud to me, but not in time to finish before the blog post was due, so I read ahead.
This quote from Tom Holland sums things up quite well, ” Tom claims, “There had always existed, in the hearts of christian people people, a tension between the demands of tradition and the claims of progress, between the prerogatives of authority and the longing for reformation, between the letter and the spirit of the law.” I agree with you that we need both.
Paradox and free will…oh the mysteries of God! How has this book helped you hold that tension? And, who do or would you recommend this book too?
I’m looking forward to reading your work and taking your class when available!
Have a wonderful Christmas with your beautiful family!