The Victory of Reason

http://www.breakpoint.org ^ | Chuck Colson

[truthfinder9]

The Victory of Reason Christianity and the West

February 22, 2006

At the heart of the furor over Danish cartoons depicting Muhammad are the different values and ideals of two civilizations: one shaped by Christianity, the other by Islam.

Of course, it's seldom put that way, especially in the elite media. Instead, the values being defended are called "Western," as if a compass point produced the freedoms we today enjoy in the Western world.

Fortunately, there's a new book that sets the record straight.

The book is called The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success by Rodney Stark, who is not a Christian believer. In fact, Stark set out to refute German sociologist Max Weber's famous thesis that attributed the rise of capitalism to the Reformation.

Instead of refuting it, however, he wound up doing just the opposite, writing about how Christianity's emphasis on reason led to the rise of Europe. By "reason," Stark means "logical thought" that doesn't "jump to conclusions." According to Stark, the "the early church fathers were very clear" about following in the "tradition" of Plato and Aristotle. And this emphasis on reason reached its zenith in Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

The belief that reason "was the supreme gift from God" encouraged inquiry not only into matters of faith but the natural world, as well. Whereas other religions viewed creation as a "mystery" beyond explanation, Christianity expected to find "immutable laws at work."

St. Augustine , who is often caricatured as the enemy of science and progress, wrote about the "wonderful . . . advances human industry has made." These "advances" were the products of the '"unspeakable boon' that God has conferred upon his creation, a 'rational nature.'"

That's why, you see, "it was during the so-called Dark Ages," and not the Renaissance, "that European technology and science overtook and surpassed the rest of the world." Contrary to what you were taught, the worst "conflicts" between Christianity and science took place after the "Age of Faith."

Equally misunderstood is the relationship between Christianity and Western freedom. It was Christianity, Stark writes, that taught the West that "the state must respect private property and not intrude on the freedom of its citizens to pursue virtue."

Our ideas about democracy and equality stem as well from the central teaching of Christianity. The link between the belief that we are all equal "in the eyes of God and in the world to come" and "all men are created equal" should be obvious.

It should be, but it isn't, at least not to many commentators and academics. In their minds, the West succeeded despite its Christian past. Myths about the "Dark Ages" and other religious dystopias attempt to put as much distance between us and our Christian past as possible.

But, as Stark notes, many non-Westerners know better: For them, Western civilization and Christianity are "inseparably linked." He notes that Christianity "is becoming globalized far more rapidly than is democracy, capitalism, or modernity," which leads him to a breathtaking conclusion: "It is quite plausible that Christianity remains an essential element in the globalization of modernity."

This book will you give you some very good ammunition to answer those critics who come up with the same tired, old arguments about the fact that Christianity held back the progress of civilization. Nonsense. The evidence is exactly the opposite.

[Beth528]

Three strangers strike up a conversation in the airport passenger lounge in Bozeman, Montana, awaiting their flights. One is an American Indian passing through from Lame Deer. Another is a Cowboy on his way to Billings for a livestock show and the third passenger is a fundamentalist Arab student, newly arrived at Montana State University from the Middle East. Their discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon, the two Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout, radical Muslim and the conversation falls into an uneasy lull. The cowboy leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine table and tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside is blowing tumbleweeds around, and the old windsock is flapping; but still no plane comes. Finally, the American Indian clears his throat and softly he speaks, At one time here, my people were many, but sadly, now we are few." The Muslim student raises an eyebrow and leans forward, "Once my people were few," he sneers, "and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?" The Montana cowboy shifts his toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says in a drawl, "That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet, but I do believe it's a-comin'."

[ZGuy]

Funny how Christianity is often seen as "Western" when Jesus was born in Asia, lived in Asia, taught in Asia, performed miracles in Asia, was crucified in Asia, rose from the dead in Asia, and when he returns he will return to . . . Asia.

[headsonpikes]

Funny how Christianity is often seen as "Western" when Jesus was born in Asia, lived in Asia, taught in Asia, performed miracles in Asia, was crucified in Asia, rose from the dead in Asia, and when he returns he will return to . . . Asia.

It has been argued that a distinctive Western Christianity emerged on the North European plain circa 1000 AD. The earlier Asian Church survives in the Orthodox faith, heirs of Byzantium.

There does seem to be a distinctively Western European cast to the Protestant faith, in particular.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"Our ideas about democracy and equality stem as well from the central teaching of Christianity. The link between the belief that we are all equal "in the eyes of God and in the world to come" and "all men are created equal" should be obvious."

Good analysis...

[CowboyJay]

I just had to laugh.

[AlbionGirl]

Equally misunderstood is the relationship between Christianity and Western freedom. It was Christianity, Stark writes, that taught the West that "the state must respect private property and not intrude on the freedom of its citizens to pursue virtue."

"Religion and liberty are inseparable. Religion is voluntary, and cannot and ought not to be forced.

This is a fundamental article of the American creed, without distinction of sect or party. Liberty, both civil and religious, is an American instinct. All natives suck it in with the mother's milk; all immigrants accept it as a happy boon, especially those who flee from oppression and persecution abroad. Even those who reject the modern theory of liberty enjoy the practice, and would defend it in their own interest against any attempt to overthrow it.

Such liberty is impossible on the basis of a union of church and state, where the one of necessity restricts or controls the other. It requires a friendly separation, where each power is entirely independent in its own sphere. The church, as such, has nothing to do with the state except to obey its laws and to strengthen its moral foundations; the state has nothing to do with the church except to protect her in her property and liberty; and the state must be equally just to all forms of belief and unbelief which do not endanger the public safety."

[AlbionGirl]

Quote was from the following article:

Church and State in the United States,
or The American Idea of Religious Liberty
by: Philip Schaff (1888)

[.30Carbine]

"Religion and liberty are inseparable. Religion is voluntary, and cannot and ought not to be forced. This is a fundamental article of the American creed, without distinction of sect or party. Liberty, both civil and religious, is an American instinct."

It is interesting to me that this creed among men is cherished and honored and held up as the ideal, and yet men, when contemplating the Rule of God, will attribute to God that He must either force men into His Kingdom or force them out.

If men, who are wicked, acknowledge that freedom of will and choice and decision are indissoluble from the human condition, and ought be so, is not God, who is Supreme Good and Rightness, so inclined to allow men this same freedom?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident...that men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights...."

It seems duplicitous to me that what men would expect and defend in their relationships to their fellow man as reasonable and right--freedom of will and conscience--they would deny the God of All has endowed them with in their relationship to Himself.

[stuartcr]

Since it is self-evidence, then I would imagine it is dependent on the individual.

[Uri’el-2012]

Funny how Christianity is often seen as "Western" when Jesus was born in Asia, lived in Asia, taught in Asia, performed miracles in Asia, was crucified in Asia, rose from the dead in Asia, and when he returns he will return to . . . Asia.

First to the Jew then to the Gentile.

b'shem Y'shua

[hosepipe]

[ It is interesting to me that this creed among men is cherished and honored and held up as the ideal, and yet men, when contemplating the Rule of God, will attribute to God that He must either force men into His Kingdom or force them out. ]

Exactly.. He is God for Christs sake..
Men are chosen by God they do not choose God..
Those Not chosen cannot reject God because they never "had" him..
Earthly religions are a club but the chosen are members of a family..
Thats why Jesus said, "You MUST be born again"..

Jesus came to make all religion obsolete, and DID..
Many still function but are obsolete..

[Clay+Iron_Times]

Thank you .30 for the ping

It seems duplicitous to me that what men would expect and defend in their relationships to their fellow man as reasonable and right--freedom of will and conscience--they would deny the God of All has endowed them with in their relationship to Himself.

Religion...A most powerful and addicting force when left in man's total control over man. More powerfully addicting than any drug. History is laced with man's struggle for the very seat that rightly belongs to God.

How much more powerful can man get with this kind of spirit?