The Unmistakable Christian Influence on the West
In his 2019 book, Dominion, author Tom Holland attempts to explain how Christianity became “the most powerful hegemonic cultural force in the history of the word” (p. xxv). It is not a history of Christianity per se, but rather he seeks “to explore how we in the West came to be what we are, and to think the way that we do” (xxiv). This is an ambitious undertaking: Holland wants to analyze the historical influences flowing into the emergence of Christianity and then to explain the varying consequences resulting from Christianity. He does so successfully—with easy, fast-paced prose sprinkled with wit.
Holland’s presupposition is that Christianity “is the most enduring legacy of classical antiquity, and the index of utter transformation” (xxii). Fittingly, he begins his tome with two ancient cities that lead to the time of Christ: Athens and Jerusalem. Contrary to Bertrand Russell, who begins his, A History of Western Philosophy with the observation, “In all history, nothing is so surprising or so difficult to account for as the sudden rise of civilization in Greece”[1], Tom Holland manages to explain exactly how the development came about. The rise of philosophy and the flourishing that followed is sketched out succinctly but expertly. Then he does the same for the influence of the Jewish nation and their Torah in chapter two. Both chapters lay the ground work for describing the melding of these two cultures, to coin a phrase, in the fullness of time. Says Holland, “The Jewish conception of the Divine was indeed well suited to an age that had seen distances shrink and frontiers melt as never before” (p. 59). When Jesus and the movement he commenced enters the stage, the world is uniquely prepared to receive and transmit its message across the known world. The next logical step is to describe the Apostle Paul and his contribution. Instead of simply retracing these historical developments, Holland explains how the culture is being affected by Christianity—and how those affects are still seen in today’s world. It makes for a compelling approach to study history because the reader can better understand the relevancy of the past on the present.
The book is organized into three main sections and the rest of Hollands first section, Antiquity, describes the development of the faith and the influences on different cultures. Here we meet familiar names: Polycarp, Ignatius, Origen, Cyprian, Constantine, Augustine. But more than just a list of famous individuals, he outlines how the church starts effecting culture. The most interesting consequence to me is the charity and giving of tithes that Christians shared to help the poor and discarded people from society. This type of generosity was a revolutionary idea and there was a “solemn charge upon new churches to always to ‘remember the poor.’ Generation after generation, Christians held true to this injunction” (p. 121).
The second section, Christendom, starts with Charlemagne and his accomplishments and ends with Galileo and the fiery debate between faith and science. Each step of the way, Holland deals with the historical realties that still resonate today. The decadence of the Papacy that existed during the Middle-Ages brought forth issues of church and state that sound modern. Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas shaped the growing sophistication in the field of education—issues that are pertinent today. The subject of women priests Catholicism is discussed and the arguments for and against also sound contemporary. So too with the discussion on the institution of marriage. All of these issues persist in Western cultures and that is Holland’s point: what we are today is a result of the Christian faith of the past. This second section ends with a longer discussion into faith -vs- science debates. Galileo has the starring role but Holland quotes from Thomas Aquinas, “Holy Scripture naturally leads men to contemplate the celestial bodies.” Still today, Christians and non-Christians argue the exact relationship between faith and science, mystery and reason. Holland seems to implore: don’t be a simpleton, but understand that both are true and have their role to play.
The third section, Modernitas, starts with Oliver Cromwell and the religious tensions in England during the seventeenth century. The section ends with the irony that the woke movement cannot recognize in themselves that their own thinking and set of values—both infused by Christian thinking and doctrine—is what enables them to criticize the perceived faults in society. Holland observes, “Elements of Christianity continued to infuse people’s morals and presumptions so utterly that many failed even to detect their presence” (p. 517).
In between the two bookends of this section, Holland covers the Enlightenment (Voltaire), evolution (Darwin), communism (Marx). Then things get really going with a turn towards the Beatles and J.R.R. Tolkien. His point is that all of Western culture has been infused, injected, enlightened, and influenced by Christianity.
Although Bebbington’s Evangelicalism in Modern Britain also traces the history of the Christian faith, Bebbington covers the influence in Great Britain and is concerned with the time period of the 1730s to the 1980’s. Its focus is narrower than Holland’s broad sketch of the West.
The book falls within the general categories of Western Civilization-History-Christianity. Despite these academic disciplines being adequately uncovered by respected scholars before him, Holland’s unique approach enables him to achieve fresh, insightful conclusions that are still relevant today. His message is a reminder that needs to be heard.
I also have a hunch Dr. Clark strategically placed this book in the line-up to follow our previous week’s reading, Cynical Theories, by Pluckrose and Lindsay. Whereas postmodernist’s proclivity is to undermine the very foundations of society, Holland wants to shore them up, explain how important they are, and to demonstrate that to discard them is madness. The Christian influence on the West is worth more than just saving—it is worth celebrating the accomplishments and preserving them into the future, for they will surely continue to ground and guide us.
[1] Bertrand Russell. A History of Western Philosophy (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2007), 3.
About the Author
Troy Rappold
B.A. Communication - University of Colorado M.Div. Theology - Cincinnati Christian University Currently enrolled in D. Min. program at George Fox University8 responses to “The Unmistakable Christian Influence on the West”
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Troy,
I’m going to push back hard on our final idea: “Whereas postmodernist’s proclivity is to undermine the very foundations of society, Holland wants to shore them up, explain how important they are, and to demonstrate that to discard them is madness.”
I believe the error many Christians are making today is to vilify the thoughts and beliefs of anyone who stands against their ideas of right and wrong in the world. Without realizing it, Evangelicals have merged their core beliefs with their socio-political views, turning America into a Christian Nation with liberals and progressives as enemy number 1 of deteriorating what they believe to be right and good in the world.
The Evangelical worldview would only exist with progressive thinkers throughout history that challenged the status quo to point to a better future for everyone, starting well before the Reformation but taking its most excellent form there through the Renaissance period. Post-modernists are questioning the status quo, and it is overdue.
Andy: There’s a difference between challenging the status quo and blowing up the very foundations upon which a society is built. America’s strength lies in its ability to self-correct, to flex, to bend and not break.
Troy, great summary of this large and comprehensive book. You mention Holland’s “fresh insightful conclusions.” What do you believe one or two of his most important concussions? I know we’ve spoken about the value of history previously. What do you make of Holland’s approach to history as a way to offer helpful insights to those living today and seeking wisdom for the future?
Thanks Troy. It sounds as though you really resonated with the book. Would you say it was a helpful read in further exploring and understanding the impact of Christianity in the West?
Troy: I appreciate how you were able to identify a possible rationale for when we read this book in light of the others. It sounds like you really enjoyed this weeks reading.
Hey Troy…thank you for your excellent summary of Holland’s book…I encourage you to consider posting it for a wider audience. Your writing style is a joy to read and I could hear your appreciation of Holland’s writing style throughout. I’m curious what lessons you see from the ways in which early Christian thought was perceived as ‘dangerous’ by Roman authorities because they feared it would undermine the values upon which their society was built, and the current challenges where what you name as the ‘woke’ movement is perceived as ‘dangerous’ by many who believe it undermines the implicit Christian values they hold dear…even though the ‘woke’ movement itself is built implicitly on Christian values? Which Christian values do you think are at stake on each ‘side’ of this current debate?
Troy I will piggy back on what Elmarie is asking and kinda go in a different direction. In the lecture that Holland gave he said Rome’s biggest issue was that change was seen as sinister. What is the correlation between fearing change and claiming Christians had dangerous thoughts? What ways do you see common threads between now and then?
Thanks Elmarie! I just posted my blog for the Adaptive Leadership book and read your comment. I really liked this book, too. Jason is picking out some thoughtful books for us to read.