The Meaning of History by Daniel Pipes

Author:Daniel Pipes [Pipes, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2017-07-11T18:30:00+00:00

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1A distinction must be made between Socialism as a religion and as a practical social movement defending labour and workers against capitalism. The second aspect is by far the more authentic.

1‘The great pyramids are the most ancient and suggestive evidence available of the final rise of an organized society.’ (Breastead.)

CHAPTER VI

CHRISTIANITY AND HISTORY

In a preceding chapter I dealt at length with the extraordinary connection between Christianity and history. I quoted Schelling, who, in his Verlesungen iiber die Methode des Academischen Studiums, put forward the illuminating suggestion that Christianity was par excellence historical; that it represented, in fact, the revelation of God in history. I have also said that Christianity was by its nature a dynamic and impetuous force, as opposed to the contemplative and static religions of the ancient world. So great, indeed, is the dynamism of Christianity that it generates movement even in those spheres where its sway has been repudiated. This dynamism manifests itself in many different forms. One of these is the revolt against destiny which is peculiar to the Christian period of history, because Christianity is the source of both true and false principles of movement. The exclusively historical character and dynamism of Christianity are the result of the Coming of Christ, which constitutes the central fact of Christian history. This fact is unique and non-recurring,—the essential quality of everything historical. And it focuses the whole of world history.

The structure of the Christian world, which is based upon the unique and non-recurring character of the historical and the union of celestial and terrestrial history, is particularly complex; for it is based upon the play of all the fundamental forces previously active in history, and particularly upon the Judaic and Hellenic principles. Their conjunction and interaction, indeed, laid the foundations of Christian history. Their influence appears to dominate alternatively in one or other phase of Christian history.

The Judaic element stands for the principles of revealed law enunciated by the Old Testament. And, at certain moments, it exercises a determining influence upon the evolution of Christianity, emphasizing the Old Testament precepts of legality at the expense of the revelation of beatitude, love and freedom. It is, indeed, the source of pharisaism in the Christian world. But it may also be the source of a very different and apocalyptic spirit, aspiring towards new and ultimate revelations. The action of the latter, however, is opposed to the principles of the Old Testament. Nevertheless, both these Judaic principles, though by nature antithetical, are deeply historical in their contribution to tradition and aspiration towards the future.

It may be said that, on the whole, the Church is essentially and pre-eminently an historical force. It introduces revelation into the historical organization of mankind and guides the religious destinies of the national masses. It is thus an historical guiding force traditionally bound up with those Judaic principles which constitute the pre-eminently historical elements of Christianity. The Hellenic elements are also a rich source of Christianity, but they are less dynamic. They are mainly related to the contemplative side of Christianity.

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