Christianity As A Cultural Good

Christianity’s impact on culture is profound, shaping everything from how we think about family to the purpose of government. However, understanding the mechanisms by which Christianity influences culture and how cultural shifts, in turn, affect religious belief is a complex task. Three books have shaped my understanding of this dynamic, and each addresses different dimensions of the intersection between Christianity and culture. They challenge conventional wisdom and provide insights that significantly altered my perspective.

Family as the foundation

Mary Eberstadt’s How the West Really Lost God (2013) transformed my understanding of secularization. Traditional theories suggest that societies become more secular as they become wealthier and more scientifically advanced. Eberstadt challenges this assumption by presenting a compelling alternative: The decline of the family is deeply intertwined with the decline of religious belief.

She roots her argument in the idea that the family serves as a divinely commissioned institution for the transmission of faith. Families are not social constructs. They are essential vessels for passing down religious beliefs and practices. When family life weakens—due to declining birth rates, increased divorce rates, and cultural shifts away from ­honoring traditional family values—­religious belief also suffers.