Thrive Perspectives: The Church in History

The influence of the Christian story on Western culture is profound and pervasive, even among those who reject its religious aspects. This is because the Christian story has shaped the moral and ethical framework of Western society for centuries. Concepts such as human dignity, justice, compassion, and the sanctity of life are all derived from biblical teaching. Even the very democracy we guard so tightly, is a result of the teachings and actions of the church. Even if individuals do not consciously acknowledge the biblical origins of these values, they have been ingrained in the cultural and societal norms that influence their beliefs and behaviours.

• Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World - Book by Tom Holland
• The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World's Largest Religion - Book by Rodney Stark
• Inventing the Individual: The Origins of Western Liberalism - Book by Larry Siedentop