The Contradiction Behind It All
“Do you know who painted this paining?” I was asked this as a friend held up my copy of Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. “Salvador Dalí.” I replied. While I knew the artist, I did not know how fitting this cover art truly is for the hardback edition of Tom Holland’s expansive volume on the influence of Christianity in Western thought. Not only is Salvador Dalí’s Christ of Saint John of the Cross emblematic of the central thesis of Holland’s book, Dalí himself is an example of the point that Holland is making – we are all influenced by Christian ideology whether we are aware of it or not. Dalí remarked of himself that he is “devote of any moral values”…reading Nietzsche and severing ties with his Christian upbringing.[1] After his conversation back to Christianity, he observed that there is nothing in any classic discipline that denies religion.[2]
Centrality of Christianity
The very life and work of Salvador Dalí is an illustration of Tom Holland’s thesis in Domination. Holland argues that “Christianity is the most transformative and revolutionary ideology that has ever existed.”[3] He goes on to observe that the ideology of Christianity permeates the ideological structure of Western culture and thought. From social norms, sexuality, to the nature of progress are all implications from Christian thought that shaped the West.[4] He goes to add that the very stories of the Bible “structure the way people think for centuries.”[5] The epicenter of these stories is the cross of Jesus. He states, “That is why the cross, that ancient implement of torture, remains what it has always been: the fitting symbol of the Christian revolution….Today, the power of this strangeness remains as alive as it has ever been.”[6]
Civil War
The centrality of the cross is a revolutionary idea that changes everything and the past two thousand years has been dedicated to working this out in thought, expression and social structure., whether we realize it or not. This is the observation Holland makes as he traverses the historical implications of Christian thought and practice. He writes, “The revolutionary implications of the message, to those who heard it, could not help but raise pressing questions…if all were equally redeemed by Christ, if all were equally beloved of God, when what of the hierarchies on which the functioning of even the humblest Romans household depend?” The tensions in social structures has not changed and will not change wherever the influence of Christianity can be found.
This is most compelling as Holland argues that the present social tensions within the West are really a clash of implications of the same Christian ideology. He writes, “America’s culture wars were less a war against Christianity than a civil war between civil factions.”[8] For example, he argues the Black Lives Matter movement is rooted in the Christian perspective that if someone is oppressed they should be set free, which is grounded in the Exodus story and the cross of Jesus, even if they are perceived as being antithetical to Christianity.[9] The problem is that while the ideologies are “rooted” in Christianity, they are not “anchored” in them which results in the conflicting and judgmental implications of the various social movements in tension at the present moment.[10]
Conclusion
Holland’s thesis in Dominion is quite compelling. In fact, I found it to be a very inspiring approach to many of the social and political issues in tension in the modern West. Holland’s ideas awakened my own appreciation and depth to the revolutionary implications of the cross in a way that I had not considered. I do wonder if arguing that Christian ideology is the thing-behind-the-thing that is being argued is a bit of circular reasoning that is impossible to prove or disprove. Perhaps it comes down to who presents the most compelling historical narrative. Much like an inspiriting work of art, one is captivated by the intricacies and implications that captures the reality that comes into focus through the work of art. For me, there is nothing more compelling than the contribution of a crucified Jesus who is declared God. That is Holland and Dali’s point, after all.
1.. Jonathan Evans, “Salvador Dalí the Enigma of Faith – Revd Jonathan Evens,” Artlyst, April 19, 2020, https://artlyst.com/features/salvador-dali-enigma-faith-revd-jonathan-evens/.
2. Ibid.
3. Speak Life, “Tom Holland | How Christianity Gained Dominion | A Secular Historian Loses His Faith (in Liberalism),” www.youtube.com, October 11, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=favILmUsVdg. 00:03:28.
4. Ibid., 00:03:46.
5. Ibid., 021:21.
6. Holland, 541.
7. Ibid., 100.
8. Ibid., 531.
9. Speak Life, 00:24:26-00:26:00.
10. Ibid., 00:26:32.
About the Author
Chad McSwain
Chad is a systematic creative serving in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years, Chad is a professional question-asker and white-board enthusiast, who enjoys helping people discover their own passions and purpose. A life-long learner, he has a B.A, Philosophy - Univ. Central Oklahoma, M.A Theology - Fuller Seminary, M.Div. Perkins School of Theology at SMU and is pursuing a Doctor of Leadership - George Fox University. He is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, currently serving as Lead Pastor of Whitesboro UMC. Chad and his wife, Brandi live in Prosper, Texas along with their three children, two pugs and a chameleon.6 responses to “The Contradiction Behind It All”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I did not catch that the cover was an art piece by Dalí – someone who would hardly identify himself as a Christian, and yet being deeply influenced by the Christian thought and tradition in which we are surrounded.
You write “I do wonder if arguing that Christian ideology is the thing-behind-the-thing that is being argued is a bit of circular reasoning that is impossible to prove or disprove. Perhaps it comes down to who presents the most compelling historical narrative.”
Is there a better way you propose we have dialogue around this?
Chad,
Like David, I didn’t realize the book cover was a work of art by Dali. That is an interesting way to introduce the book to readers, I think.
I really liked your “bottom line” at the end of the post:
“For me, there is nothing more compelling than the contribution of a crucified Jesus who is declared God. That is Holland and Dali’s point, after all.”
It was a fabulous way to wrap it all up. Great post!
Tonette, thank you for sharing about the cover. I did not know that about Salvador Dali either. What a great way to discuss the book – comparing how Dali’s work exemplifies Holland’s thesis. I would be interested to know if this correlation was intentional by Holland (probably). Can you think of other examples of artists who are similarly influenced?
Chad
Excellent tie in with the artist of the book cover!
Great job
Chad,
I like that you highlight Holland’s assertion that Christianity has been the most transformative ideology in history, shaping social norms, sexuality, and notions of progress. You also point out that central to this influence is the symbol of the cross. Which continues to challenge and revolutionize societal structures.
I pulled this quote too, “Christianity is the most transformative and revolutionary ideology that has ever existed.”
I can see this gaining resistance, from within other cultures! How can we navigate this?