As the Church evangelized the known world, civilization obviously changed, and the biblical theology of children was part of that change. As some have argued, the pagan West did not take for granted the worth of children in their innocence, vulnerability, wonder, and otherwise immense, unique value. This vision of the child was, make no mistake, a cultural product of Christianity.
Obviously, we have developed caricatured mutations of this trope that is sometimes two parts sentimentalism and one part emotional manipulation. But, even when our society indulges the “think of the children” trap, it is haphazardly recapitulating a Christian insight. The Christian tradition affirms that children are to be treasured and protected, and that abusing, violating, depriving, or corrupting them is a uniquely grievous evil. As Tom Holland and others have pointed out, these notions of inherent, universal human dignity didn’t arise in a vacuum, nor did they seem to arise inevitably or naturally from classical paganism.
Read more at WORLD Opinions.
St. Jude's Anglican Church
We are a parish of the Reformed Episcopal Church. We have been worshiping together in the greater Richmond area for over a decade. We’d love to have you join us for Christian worship in the rich Anglican tradition.
