Christianity is the Greatest Story - Tom Holland and Paul Vanderklay || SLP427
Sep 20, 2022
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Historian Tom Holland and pastor Paul Vanderklay discuss mission in the meaning crisis, the impact of Jordan Peterson on faith, the richness of Christianity, Christianity's resilience and changing shape, and the danger of secular ideology in churches.
Christianity's influence on Western culture extends to even atheism, which can be seen as a logical endpoint of Christian ideas.
The church should embrace its unique heritage and religious festivals to offer a distinct Christian perspective in times of crisis.
Churches should resist assimilating into the dominant secular ideology and nurture their distinct beliefs and practices, providing a counter-cultural narrative and perspective on life.
Deep dives
The Significance of Christian Influence in the West
Tom Holland discusses the deep influence of Christianity in Western culture and argues that even atheism can be seen as a logical endpoint of Christianity. He suggests that the church should embrace its unique heritage and religious festivals, offering a distinct Christian perspective during times of crisis and uncertainty.
The Role of Church in Providing Meaning and Comfort
The pandemic has highlighted the need for spiritual comfort and meaning. Holland emphasizes the importance of the church in offering solace and explanation grounded in biblical teachings and traditions. He encourages church leaders to draw on the rich history, festivals, and narratives of Christianity to provide a distinctively Christian perspective on the challenges faced by society.
The Risk of Blurring into the Secular Mainstream
Holland warns of the danger of churches assimilating into the dominant liberal secular ideology of the post-60s era. He calls for churches to resist becoming mere echoes of the prevailing secular worldview and instead nurture their distinct beliefs and practices that offer a counter-cultural narrative and perspective on life.
The Importance of Making the Christian Story Strange
In this podcast episode, the speakers discuss the importance of making the Christian story strange and reglamorizing it. They emphasize that Christianity is a uniquely compelling and thrilling story that has captivated more people than any other belief system. They argue that many people today are hungering for meaning and are drawn to the drama and depth of the Christian narrative. They also suggest that the deprivation of religious experience in the modern world has heightened the impact of church services and rituals, allowing people to connect with something profound and transformative.
The Crisis of Meaning and the Role of Christianity
The podcast explores the crisis of meaning prevalent in today's society and its possible connection to the decline of institutional Christianity. The speakers discuss the dangers of jettisoning religious traditions, rituals, and scriptures, which have provided structure and explanation for belief systems. They highlight the consequences of rejecting Christian values, such as the devaluation of the weak and the worship of strength. Additionally, they suggest that the loss of meaning has led to the emergence of various ideologies and beliefs as substitutes, but emphasize that the Christian story remains the most powerful and resonant narrative, capable of addressing the profound hunger for meaning present in humanity.
Glen Scrivener hosts a panel with historian Tom Holland (author of Dominion and co-presenter of The Rest is History podcast) and pastor Paul Vanderklay (YouTuber known as the pastor to the intellectual dark web). They discuss mission in the meaning crisis. Recorded on 3rd September at Oak Hill College. Your podcast host is Thomas Thorogood.
Contact the show: info@speaklife.org.uk
Speak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world. Learn more about us here: speaklife.org.uk
