From Grim Stories to an Upside-Down Gospel
The stories societies tell reflect their cultural values and expectations.
If I were living in Greece or Rome at the time of Christ’s birth, here are some of the stories of gods who might have been retold in my local temple:
- Prometheus[1], a god of fire, who, dared to defy the gods and share fire with humans. In response, his god-king, Zeus, opted to tie Prometheus to a rock and send an eagle to eat his liver. Every. Single. Day.
- Or there was Saturn (Kronos), who ate his son because he was afraid he was going to be unseated from power.[2]
- Then there was Pentheus who was torn limb from limb for spying by a brutal mob, led by his mother.[3]
- Persephone was abducted and raped by Hades[4]
Pretty grim. The power and authority of these gods enabled them to do whatever they wanted to expedite their desires, which were often fixated on their own personal gain. Having such archetypes as supreme power brokers must have had an influence on how I would have seen myself, my worth, and my role in society. What a contrast then to have Christ appear on the scene and talk about blessing the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful. This was an entirely different formula for a deity than what was used in the prevailing cultures of the time.
“How astonishing it was, then, that people should have come to believe that one particular victim of crucifixion… was to be worshipped as a god.” [5]
I do not fully grasp all that Holland is trying to do in the 542 pages of Dominion, but one thing rang loud and clear as I reviewed his writing (along with various interviews[6] and reviews[7]) was that Christ’s sacrifice and his insistence that the “first shall be last and the last shall be first” was so radically different to the prevailing attitudes of the Greco-Roman culture of his day to have been seen as absurd. It certainly gives color to why the world had such a difficult time accepting a savior-king that looked so different than what the culture had defined.
As an aside: We have spoken at length in this class about the disruption that we are living through currently- caused by the increase in available information, the introduction of technology, and general civil unrest. I wonder, though, if the disruption that Jesus introduced with his supreme power and authority applied to working together for our good might have been just as earth shaking.
An upside-down gospel…in a Post-Christian era?
Holland argues that Christ’s radical act of self-sacrifice for our benefit overcame the Greco-Roman worldview that included gods who were cruel and barbaric and acted purely out of self-interest.[8] He illustrates how this point in history served as a pivot point for shaping the values and ideals owned by today’s Western culture- even a culture that rejects the person of Christ. Challenging the post-Christian perspective, he declares:
“Any condemnation of Christianity as patriarchal and repressive derived from a framework of values that was itself utterly Christian.”[9]
I hear a lot of theologians talk about an upside-down gospel- and it makes sense. What is dissonant for me is the idea that those upside-down principles that Christ introduced are now accepted as a matter of course in our society today. It is not that I disagree with his observations- it is just weird to notice Christ’s fingerprints in a society that really doesn’t like him. “Christianity, it seemed, had no need of actual Christians for its assumptions to still flourish.”[10] Just as I argued when we reviewed Joesph Campbell’s work[11] I am compelled to see this paradox as evidence that “our stories reflect who we are, our desires tell the bigger story, and our beliefs and our desires shape the stories we tell.”
So, as members of a -post-Christin society that rejects Christ, but shares his ethics, how do we respond? Many questions arise:
- How is the modern experience different for those living in cultures that do not have a Judeo-Christian heritage?
- How do we see the implications of those shifts today?
- As believers, how should these echoes of Christ’s ethic in a secular world impact us and how we engage with that world?
_____________________________________
[1] “Prometheus,” in Wikipedia, November 24, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prometheus&oldid=1259266675.
[2] “Cronus,” in Wikipedia, November 21, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cronus&oldid=1258770655.
[3] “Pentheus,” in Wikipedia, October 28, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pentheus&oldid=1253974198.
[4] “Persephone,” in Wikipedia, November 28, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Persephone&oldid=1260053754.
[5] Tom Holland, Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World, Reprint edition (Basic Books, 2021).
[6] Tom Holland – “Dominion,” 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYkP46aYQIs.
[7]Stephen Prickett, “Tom Holland, Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind,” Theology 123, no. 2 (2020): 144–45, https://doi.org/10.1177/0040571X19894860h.
[8] Tom Holland – “Dominion.”
[9] Holland, Dominion, 532.
[10] Holland, 533.
[11] Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Joseph Campbell Foundation, 2020).
About the Author
Jennifer Vernam
12 responses to “From Grim Stories to an Upside-Down Gospel”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Jennifer,
I loved your point about the upside-down gospel. It’s a living gospel in progress, still making an impact, and certainly imperfectly executed.
I have been pondering the questions at the end of your post.
I heard the term post-Christian nation about two decades ago from an Australian man who was lamenting the loss of faith in his nation. I remember feeling very sad about that. But I also wondered if it was a correct perspective. Is the idea of Christian nation an illusion? Does God look at nations as being pre-Christian and post-Christian? What does a Christian nation even look like? I’m not sure I’ve seen one. My ignorance is showing here as I’m not well-versed on these terms. What I have seen is Christian influence even in places that hold very contrary beliefs. I also see the same principles, such as caring for the poor and marginalized in other faith traditions.
So, to answer your last question, I think in terms of collaboration. By way of example, my husband spoke a few weeks ago at a symposium in Singapore regarding a particularly sensitive mental health issue. What was so encouraging was how those of different faith communities wanted to collaborate and work together in a nation that is very diverse both religiously and ethnically. I was actually very inspired and felt very welcomed in that space. I believe others felt the same. Do you have similar experiences or examples in a US context?
I’ve enjoyed your posts over the last two years. Always something new to consider. Thank you!
Have wonderful Christmas!
Thanks for your kind words, Jenny. I can think of a couple of examples of the kind of cross-cultural acceptance you mention. One is this cohort… but maybe a more stark example is a network of missionaries I get to work with from time to time. Many of them are non-Western, working in areas of great persecution… I think the unity of faith in the midst of insecurity has almost acted like a “fellowship accelerator.” Bonding happens fast, people are quick to overlook cultural gaffes- a general sense of gratitude just to be in community. It is really lovely.
Hi, Jen,
As always, you ask powerful questions that cause much thought. You asked “As believers, how should these echoes of Christ’s ethic in a secular world impact us and how we engage with that world?” I think this is one the church is wrestling with continually. Perhaps a less of an “us vs. them” and more of a “we can look at this together” would be much more helpful. If there is a sense of Christian ethic still at the base, there will always be some sort of commonality to draw from that unifies.
By the way, I have so enjoyed having you in my cohort. I think between you, Kim, and Travis, the critical thinking level is truly off the charts. So appreciate all of you.
Oh, the feeling is so mutual, Esther. I am preemptively grieving the end of our “I am here” days.
Your post helped me grasp Holland better, as my inspectional reading didn’t get me “quite” there.
It brought up a thought. How long can the fingerprints of Jesus last on a culture who rejects Jesus? I feel like part of what we are seeing now in the conversation you referenced (current disruption) IS due to the erasure of Christ’s influence in an emerging culture.
In other words, what used to be “accepted” morality based on Christianity (be kind to your neighbors who think differently politically, don’t talk bad about the disabled, walk with humility, see the value in every person, etc.) seems to be quickly going out the window.
Could it be that even more than a rise of technology this is the reason for the rise of anxiety?
Maybe I’m grasping at straws.
It’s been fun to grasp at all kinds of straws and pull on all kinds of threads with you in our cohort. You make me think better, and I often read one of your posts or leave a zoom thinking “I want to be more like Jenn”.
Thanks. Finish line is soon! Hang in there.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Tim.
I think you are on the right path… how can we not have anxiety if we have these moral ideals that spring from Christ’s perfection. We can never live up. Without the gift of grace… well, despair seems a logical option. Grim again!
Also, this takes me back to Kim’s questions around the virtues of Christian values in an unbelieving society.
Once again, you’ve knocked it out of the park with this post. You had my brain going in two different directions. First, I’m going to share with my kids the bits you wrote about the ancient Greek and Roman gods. My two sons have been fascinated with those stories ever since they started studying them in upper elementary school and then the Percy Jackson franchise came along. At first I couldn’t decide if I should be uncomfortable with their obsession, and I think your analysis puts words to what I was sensing.
Secondly, as you mention toward the end of your post, I wish I could discuss these ideas with a diverse panel of Christians and non-Christians from other parts of the world. I wonder what Korean Christians would say? Lebanese Christians? Hindus in India? Are we (is Holland?) making some assumptions about the values of people in far-away lands?
Finally, as the semester is wrapping up, I’m starting to think about Christmas celebrations. I was remembering how fun it was last year to celebrate with your family here in France! See you in a few months on your home turf!
First, How funny that we both thought the other “knocked it out of the park!”
Second- Caleb was my original source for all of those myths. He also had a Percy Jackson phase.
Third- I have been thinking A LOT about our last Christmas with you guys. That is going in the list of top Christmas memories for us. Can’t wait to see you in May!
I have lived 53 years and can count on my one hand how many people I would deem to be as freaking smart as you Jen. Seriously.
But here the catch…you have such a great human side – one that isn’t overshadowed by your brilliance. It’s a wonderful combo.
We have all been the beneficiaries of you, being you in our cohort. Thank you.
Grace & Peace my friend.
John, If I pay you, will you continue to provide me with affirmations post- graduation? Just kidding. Sort of.
Thanks for being such a fun addition to this cohort!
Great post, Jen. I’ll attempt to wrestle with a couple of your questions, briefly. You ask, “How is the modern experience different for those living in cultures that do not have a Judeo-Christian heritage?” I would guess that the answer is found probably somewhere in the image of God factor. People bear God’s image and according to Scripture, even if they don’t have a “Judeo-Christian heritage,” they still have God’s law on their conscience (Romans 2:15).
You ask, “As believers, how should these echoes of Christ’s ethic in a secular world impact us and how we engage with that world?” This is similar to a question Kim asked in her post, and your question and hers have me thinking. Really, these questions have me pondering, what is currently (radically?) different in my own life and in our own church, informed by the love of Christ, in terms of love, compassion, and care (see Kim’s post) for those around us as we are called to live as a “city on a hill” in the places and communities where God places us.
Great post and great questions, Jen. Merry Xmas to your and your family! May the Lord bless you and your work and the work you are carving out for yourself in your doctoral project.
Jennifer,
Your posts prompt me to think deeper about the content in the books that we are reading. I hadn’t given thought to the perspective of how upside-down principles, introduced by Christ are now accepted as a matter of course in our society today. Do you have a specific example? Thank you for pushing me to reflect more on that.