Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind

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Christianity is the most enduring legacy of the ancient world and its emergence marks a transformative development in Western history. Even those in the West who have abandoned their ancestral faith and view religion as mere superstition remain its heirs. While the divide between skeptics and believers may seem unbridgeable, Christianity's impact is evident in areas often seen as its opposites, such as science and secularism. This exploration places the evolution of our thoughts and identities within a broad historical context, spanning from the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC to the current migration crisis in Europe, and from Nebuchadnezzar to the Beatles. It delves into what made Christianity revolutionary and how it saturated the mindset of Latin Christendom. Despite growing skepticism towards religion, many Western instincts remain deeply rooted in Christian thought. The aim is twofold: to highlight the novelty of early Christian teachings and to reveal how our contemporary perspectives may also appear strange when viewed through this historical lens. We find ourselves at the culmination of a profound transformation in understanding humanity, one that can only be fully appreciated by tracing its arc over millennia.