The Irony of the Western Mind
“To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other also. And to the one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either”. (Luke 6:29 NIV)
“For God does not show favoritism”. (Romans 2:11 NIV)
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 NIV)
While these verses seem normal to many Christian and non-Christians in the West, the life and teaching of Jesus turned the world upside down. From going to the Samaritan woman, to healing the bleeding woman, to caring for the Roman centurion’s daughter, Jesus laid a foundation for lifting up the poor, oppressed, or those who are different. Jesus had a profound impact on the moral imagination of the west, so much so, that it’s difficult to understand how completely unnatural these beliefs are. As the West is becoming less and less Christian, it’s ironic that the core beliefs of Christianity are still deeply profound and meaningful to the West. In his book Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, historian Tom Holland argues that these are uniquely Christian values and the west has Christianity to thank for core beliefs like gender equality, gay rights, support of refugees and foreigners, care for those with low socio economic status, etc. [1] Holland asserts that the cross, where Jesus died a shameful, slave-like punishment, contributed to undermining slavery and elevating the dignity of slaves.
I had an atheist friend who had left the church. She desired belonging and acceptance. She didn’t quite fit in at the church and was hurt by Christians. She wanted a place to call home, a place to be herself, and a place to be loved. She couldn’t stand the hypocrisy in the church and was a social justice warrior. She believed in the rights of all human beings, from children with special needs, to refugees and asylum seekers, to those lacking permanent housing, to foster children, and many others that found themselves on the margin of society. She just didn’t find this enough in the church, so she left the faith. As we talked about it, I couldn’t help but see that she was deeply desiring Jesus and the church. She was incredibly disappointed with the church’s ability to live up to the standard. Why did she care about these things so much? Why did she believe that all are created equal and deserve dignity and equity? Today, she has come back to Jesus and realized that all of her longings were for him and his kingdom. These longings, according to Holland, were a part of her cultural upbringing in the west, rather than a natural state of humanity.
I have long known that Jesus created an upside down kingdom that calls us to withstand temptations for selfish gain, to value others above ourselves, and to treat all as image bearers of God. However, I didn’t realize the depth of impact, even in a post-religious age. Debates about morality are still conducted under Christian terms.
Dominion, while an intense read, is both disorienting and eye-opening. He challenges the secular west to acknowledge the incredible contribution that Christianity has made to society and it encourages Christians in how much their King has transformed the world. However, a Christian can’t help but wonder what will happen to society as fewer and fewer are being shaped by Christ and the Bible. Can the western society maintain the culture without the driving force of Jesus and the Bible? Tom Holland says that the verdict is still to be determined. [2] Cultures are shaped from myths or historical stories that are told, retold, and become a central part of collective memory. That used to be the story of Jesus. Since WWII, a new hero and villain were introduced. Was WWII enough to become a new story that society latches on to? Does Hitler replace Satan and does democracy replace Jesus?
I would think that Hitler isn’t a strong enough force to last for the next 2000 years – but if not, then what happens? Does the west slip into fascism?
References
[1] Tom Holland, Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, Paperback edition (ABACUS, 2020).
[2] Tom Holland, “The Making Of The Western Mind | Tom Holland,” interview by John Anderson, September 2, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUUkY164jhc.
About the Author
Christy
7 responses to “The Irony of the Western Mind”
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Hi Christy,
Thank you for the story of your friend. What she really longed for was Jesus. How do you think that politics in the West is influencing whether or not people discover Jesus in the church?
Yes, she was longing for Jesus! I think politics has made it harder for non-Christians to come to the church for answers. Unfortunately, the church has a less than ideal reputation in the West that needs thoughtful intentionality to overcome.
Hi Christy, Your post was succinct yet hit on such vital points to consider and remember. As you mentioned, the possibility that society sees Hitler as a new satan and democracy as a new Jesus, I cringe. Not because you named it, but because it is highly possible that people have replaced Jesus. My question is bigger than any one blog, but can you see some potential first steps for Christians and churches to invite others to keep Jesus as the head and heart of life?
Christy, good turn at the end to the cultural moment in which we find ourselves. How would you answer your own question about which way the west may now turn, with so little grounding in Christ left?
Actually I still have a lot of hope. The gospel of Jesus is powerful and people want to hear it. They are longing for Jesus and given someone to tell the story of the gospel in a non-threatening way, people still listen. It’s an uphill battle because of some of the harmful ways we’ve shared our messages in the past, but I’m still hopeful that people will turn to Jesus in the west.
Good reflection, Christy. Your point of the reshaping of the myth away from Jesus and the spiritual realm is interesting. Is there any leverage that Christians gain from Holland’s argument, to reframe the story of the world back to Christ?
Hey Christy, I appreciate your thoughtful reflection. After reading Holland what do believe is the biggest fault of the Western church?