Pilgrim Soldier

Ok I’ve officially had enough. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a tendency for people to call for a return to Christian values in society as an answer in all sorts of discussions. When all else fails in a discussion on the falling moral standards in Western society, people resort to calling for a return to the Christian principles on which Western society is supposedly founded. Breakdown in family values; let’s return to Christian values. Immigration; force people to adhere to the Christian values our society was built upon. The problem is that I’m not sure Western society was ever really founded on Christian values!

Ok, a sweeping statement I know, but lets have a think about it for a moment!

Yes our legal system is built on Judeo-Christian ideals with the 10 Commandments being quite high up in that basis. The ‘Church’ has certainly been a major social player over the centuries, and still is in some areas. But can we really say that Western society was ever really Christian? If so when?

You see I look back and see the values of social elitism being a dominant factor is western society for centuries. Colonialism and the subjugation of whole people groups is hardly a Christian principle! Using the Church to keep the peasants under control is not really Christian.

In reality classic western Christian culture is as much, if not more, influenced by Greek influence as it is by the teachings of Jesus.