First Things Podcast

Against Christian Civilization | 2024 Erasmus Lecture Presented by Paul Kingsnorth

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Dec 26, 2024
In this engaging talk, Paul Kingsnorth, a distinguished novelist and essayist, shares profound insights from his 2024 Erasmus Lecture. He reflects on cultural loss and personal trauma, drawing from a visit to Little Bighorn. Kingsnorth discusses the displacement of Native Americans and the struggle to retain identity amidst cultural erasure. He critiques the decline of Christianity in Western society, contrasting true Christian values with today's materialism. Ultimately, he advocates for transformation through repentance and a return to love as the heart of Christian civilization.
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ANECDOTE

Little Bighorn Reflection

  • Paul Kingsnorth visited the Little Bighorn battlefield, reflecting on the Native American experience.
  • He imagined the trauma of cultural loss, including land, metaphysics, and their understanding of the world.
ANECDOTE

Ohiesa's Bridge

  • Kingsnorth discusses Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiesa), a Native American who navigated cultural change.
  • Ohiesa became a doctor, writer, and advocate, bridging white and Native American cultures.
INSIGHT

No Christian Civilization

  • Ohiesa concluded there's no such thing as Christian civilization.
  • He believed Christianity and modern civilization are fundamentally opposed.
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