The Right Conditions

By Sara Cockrell, Bryan Collegiate High School

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines religion as “a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith” (Merriam). Most people define it as “the service and worship of God or the supernatural” (Merriam). While Christianity technically fits both definitions, it defines better as a relationship, “the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected” (Oxford). Christians and their God undergo a very personal connection. They believe God came down to the green and blue Earth which He created and that a virgin gave birth to him. He lived as Jesus and performed miracles and preached God’s commands. Then, Roman soldiers crucified him, creating a terribly painful death.

Miraculously, however, he rose three days later, appeared to several eyewitnesses, and ascended to Heaven at the right hand of God. Interestingly, no other religious leader claimed or claims divinity, which separates Christianity from other religions. “He was presenting himself as the only avenue to a relationship with God, the only source of forgiveness for sins, and the only way of salvation” (McDowell). By the Christian God coming to Earth as Jesus and dying on the cross, He committed the greatest act of love; “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (New International Version, John 15:13). No other god or gods died or will die, for their people.

Regardless of the validity or invalidity of its beliefs, Christianity impacted, and impacts, the world, and individuals. In a 2015 study, the total world population comprised of 0.01 billion Jews, 1.8 billion Muslims, and 2.3 billion Christians (Hackett). In addition, it also included a little over 8.2 million Jehovah’s Witnesses (2015). Adding those together, out of the 7.2 billion people in 2015, over 4,118,200,000 believed that there lived a real person named Jesus, regardless of their interpretations of him. This matters because this impacts over half of the world’s population directly, and the other half indirectly. Christianity affected and provided science, education, the American Government, quality of life, economics, a scapegoat, and individual people.

First of all, Christianity throughout history majorly influenced academics. Dennis Kennedy, a pastor, and Jerry Newcombe, a film writer, both “argue that science has its roots in Christianity.” They claim that other worldviews and beliefs believe either “the physical world is an illusion” or that everything “is fatalistically determined.” Science could not advance from illusion or fatalism. Christianity, however, derives from the idea that “there exists a rational God who is the source of rational truth;” thus, this possibly led to scientific laws (The Impact).

Moreover, Julius Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist, and Alfred Whitehead, a mathematician and philosopher, both insist that “modern science could not have been born except in a Christian” environment. Isaac Newton, Louis Pasteur, Johannes Kepler, and so many more pioneering scientists identified as a Christian. The scientific revolution started in the West and not in the East for a reason: Christianity.

Another academic influence includes the education system. Think of how “100 of the first 110 universities in America were founded for the express purpose of propagating the Christian religion,” universities such as Princeton, Yale, and more. Also, consider that the Puritans had a literacy rate of 95% (Williams). In fact, the first law requiring education happened because the Puritans passed it. The “emphasis on the written word” represents a major part of Christianity (The Impact). Many of the academic opportunities in the world today may owe its thanks to Christianity.

Secondly, Christianity impacts the American government. For example, the idea of equality and human rights find their roots in the Biblical notion that God created all people in his image, just like it says in the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (US 1776)

All 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence belonged to and identified as at least one of the branches of Christianity (Religion). Apart from this, however, the American currency reads, “In God we trust,” the Pledge of Allegiance states, “one nation under God,” and the Star Spangled Banner proclaims, “In God is Our Trust.” On another note, the concept of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches comes from Isaiah 33:22 which states that “the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King” (New International Version, Isaiah 33:22). America’s foundation on Christian beliefs is so evident and clear.

Moreover, Christianity influences the value and quality of life. A person without faith in something bigger than themselves is left with no hope, and without hope, what can a person strive for in life? For Christians, though, they believe in a divine being that loves them and they believe that they will see their Creator again one day. This hope keeps them alive, looking forward to tomorrow. From 2007 to 2014, the suicide rate increased from 11.3% to 13% (Suicide).

Within that same time frame, Christianity declined from 78.4% to 70.6% (America’s). Indeed, as Christianity waned, the amount of suicide and suicide attempts intensified. Granted, while it is not a causation, there is still a correlation. Furthermore, God calls Christians to forgive other people just as Christ forgives them. Unforgiveness can negatively affect the mental health of a person. “Unforgiveness is often a core component of stress,” which leads to a decrease in the psychological state of a person. Also, unforgiveness causes an increase of “guilt, shame, and regret that in turn negatively impacts one’s mental health” (Handbook).

Likewise, according to the Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index, “loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, making it even more dangerous than obesity.” This survey of 20,000 Americans proves that 43% always or sometimes lack companionship, 46% always or sometimes feel alone, 54% always or sometimes feel as though no one really knows them, and 36% always or sometimes feel like “there is no one” to turn to (Cigna).

Yet, God calls Christians to forgive others and live in fellowship with one another. Several verses in the Bible emphasize the importance of social interactions between people: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:25, Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, Proverbs 27:17, Matthew 18:20, and many more. After all, God created Eve so Adam would not live life alone.

Next, Christianity impacted the world economically by creating capitalism. Certain ideas, such as the “protection of private property, freedom of enterprise, and freedom of expression” are crucial to capitalism. Capitalists believe “the government’s role should be solely” to protect the people and ensure their freedoms (Kowalczyk). The right to own private property arises from Deuteronomy 5:21 which states, “You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (New International Version, Deuteronomy 5:21).

In addition, 2 Timothy 2:6 reveals, “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops,” which provides an example of Protestant ethic (New International Version, 2 Timothy 2:6). Protestant ethic defines as the idea that a person’s success should come from hard work. Capitalism “emerged in the west” and was “helped along” by the Protestant ethic (Wood). This economic system proves effective as from 1970 to 2006, the global poverty rate declined by 80%. Another example includes that from 1990 to 2013, the mortality rate decreased 49% among children 5 years of age and younger (Brandler).

However, an important distinction must “be made between Biblical capitalism and evolutionary capitalism.” Evolutionary capitalism finds its foundations on the idea of “survival of the fittest,” while Biblical capitalism focuses on the “importance of servanthood — a key teaching of Jesus” (The Impact). In the end, people alone matter.

Moving on, Christianity impacted the world negatively by providing a scapegoat. In several instances, people have taken advantage of Christianity by performing terrible things in “Christ’s name.” For example, racism and slavery in America seemed to “be seeded in scripture”, according to Nineteenth Century Christians. While the Bible demonstrates neither, people claimed that “God” told them to act and create these problems. One of the main issues encompasses people taking scripture “grossly out of context” and perverting it, consequently misrepresenting Christianity (Monge).

Likewise, “the violence and barbarism of the Crusaders gave Christianity a bad name.” The actions that took place during the Crusades were not Christ-like or Biblically backed up at all. Forcing people to convert, conquering land in Jesus’ name, violence, and other actions are not advocated by Christianity (Crusades). Racism, slavery, and the Crusades, all terrible things that people seem to blame or relate Christianity too, in no way properly represent what the Christian faith stands for.

Lastly, Christianity affected individual people. For example, Acts 22 in the Bible talks about Paul the Apostle’s testimony. It describes how he persecuted and murdered Christians. Then one day, this bright light blinded him. He could not see anything but heard Jesus tell him to go complete what God called him to. When his companions carried him away, a man named Ananias gave his sight back and told him to go be baptized. Saul became Paul and received salvation that day. He would go on to write the majority of the New Testament books, proclaiming God’s word. When he met Jesus, Paul transformed into a Christian, the same type of person that he used to kill and torture. Another example includes Lee Strobel’s testimony.

Strobel — a skeptical atheist, a husband, a father, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune — one day hears his wife tell him that she decided to become a follower of Jesus Christ. In hopes of rescuing his wife and their marriage, he sets out to explore and debunk Christianity. The more he dove deeper into the evidence, the more he realized that “it would require more faith for him to maintain his atheism than to become a Christian” (Lee). He goes on to write The Case for Christ, published in 1998, which became a movie in 2017. Among other publications, he and his wife continue to be strong in the faith and their marriage.

Christianity influenced several aspects of life including academia, culture, the value and quality of life, economics, scapegoating, and several individuals. This religion and relationship influence various people in various ways. C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important” (Good). Despite people’s different interpretations, Christianity affected and still affects billions of people around the world.

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