In a newly resurfaced music video from 2020English philosopher AC Shadow He claimed that he could not think of anything truly unique that Christianity had given to the world. Historian Tom Holland responded with what my colleague Shane Morris called “one of his best ‘mic drop’ moments.” »
In about 90 seconds, Holland rattled off a list including marriage for life, concepts of sexuality protecting women and children, the modern scientific project, the idea that humans bear the image of God, the universality of ethics, and much more.
As Holland said: “Essentially, what I’m talking about…is…what makes Western civilization distinctive. » These ideas ended slavery, expanded care for the poor, established democracy, educated the masses, and insisted that everyone be subject to the same law. The source of each of these ideas comes from centuries of Christian reflection on the truths of the Bible. In short, what has Christianity brought to the world? Almost everything that matters most.
