The Transition from Obligations to Rights in Papal Reforms

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Exploring the emergence of rights language, this chapter delves into the papal reforms of the 11th century, highlighting the shift towards individual rights and the claim of the poor on the resources of the wealthy. It also discusses the confinement of state power by the authority of the church and the excommunication of the emperor by the Pope, leading to a theological understanding of obligations and the rise of an individualistic society based on rights.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” says the Declaration of Independence. But is it really self-evident? What is the basis of equality? How have we come to think the way we do about the world?

In this episode of the Post-Christianity? podcast, Glen Scrivener and Andrew Wilson discuss the making of the Western Mind and how we became WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) as they trace the history of the West up to 1776.

They make the case that far from being neutral, or self-evident, the values which many hold dear in the West today can be traced back through figures like Luther, Augustine, Paul, and ultimately to Jesus. They show that in spite of its secular pretensions the West remains a place thoroughly shaped and marked by a Christian worldview.

So are we really post-Christian? Or is Christianity the only framework that can really make sense of the things we value most?

Credits:

Post-Christianity? is a podcast from The Gospel Coalition and The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. Learn more about The Keller Center here.

The Good Book Company is the publisher of The Air We Breathe by Glen Scrivener. For 25% off books on Christianity and culture, go to thegoodbook.com/postpodcast.