--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I have pointed out, it is the…" description: "\"As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that is the most fundamental element in Western culture. It lies at the base not only of Western r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg" --- # As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that… ![“As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that is the most fundamental element in Western culture. It lies at the base not only of Western religion, but also of Western morals and Western social idealism.” quote by Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg) > “As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that is the most fundamental element in Western culture. It lies at the base not only of Western religion, but also of Western morals and Western social idealism.” [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian tradition underpins Western religion, morals, and social ideals, shaping cultural foundations. **In simple terms:** Christianity is a core foundation of Western culture. Key Takeaway Recognize historical influences on modern values. Themes religion culture morality history Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - education - politics - social policy - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Western civilization Christian ethics Questions to Reflect On - What other traditions shape Western values? - How do secular ideas intersect with religious roots? A Different Perspective Overemphasis may overlook other cultural contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Idealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-culture/) ## Related quotes > [And so, today, if the state can no longer appeal to the old moral principles that belong to the Christian tradition, it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/and-so-today-if-the-state-can-no-longer-appeal-to-the-old-moral/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [The only consistency is hostility toward Western religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-knight/the-only-consistency-is-hostility-toward-western-religion/) Robert H. Knight > [Acceptance without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western religion, rejection without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/acceptance-without-proof-is-the-fundamental-characteristic-of-western/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [...Coca-Cola and fries, the wafer and wine of the Western religion of commerce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/coca-cola-and-fries-the-wafer-and-wine-of-the-western-religion-of/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [“Contrary to popular opinion, then, Christianity is not a Western religion that destroys local cultures. Rather, Christianity has taken more culturally diverse forms than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/contrary-to-popular-opinion-then-christianity-is-not-a-western/) [Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/) > [I am a Christian. So, I have a deep faith. So I draw from the Christian faith...So, I'm rooted in the Christian tradition. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-a-christian-so-i-have-a-deep-faith-so-i-draw-from-the-christian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“To the accepted Christian tradition that man must be free to follow his conscience in moral matters if his actions are to be of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-a-hayek/to-the-accepted-christian-tradition-that-man-must-be-free-to-follow/) [Friedrich A. Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-a-hayek/) > [Christianity was neither original nor unique, but that the roots of much of the Judeo/ Christian tradition lay in the prevailing Kamite (ancient Egyptian)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-massey/christianity-was-neither-original-nor-unique-but-that-the-roots-of/) [Gerald Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-massey/) > [“stories of the Virgin being succoured by a friendly palm tree had actually been a Christian tradition for centuries, and seem in turn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/stories-of-the-virgin-being-succoured-by-a-friendly-palm-tree-had/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [It is ironic that so many politicians claim to defend traditional Christian values of 'faith and family.' In fact, a radical antifamily ideology permeates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/it-is-ironic-that-so-many-politicians-claim-to-defend-traditional/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [“Because it is such a powerful force in the world today, the Western Judeo-Christian tradition is often accepted as the arbiter of 'natural' behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-l-williams/because-it-is-such-a-powerful-force-in-the-world-today-the-western/) Walter L. Williams > [When you look at food as an ethical issue in the Christian tradition, you don't find very much about it. You don't find, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/when-you-look-at-food-as-an-ethical-issue-in-the-christian-tradition/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Spiritual formation in a Christian tradition answers a specific human question: 'What kind of person am I going to be?' It is the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spiritual-formation-in-a-christian-tradition-answers-a-specific-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [In the West nowadays, it's very common to talk about the Judeo- Christian tradition. It's a common term. The term is relatively modern but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/in-the-west-nowadays-it-s-very-common-to-talk-about-the-judeo/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [Perhaps the greatest contribution that those of us who come from a Christian tradition can make is to throw out the old just-war theory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/perhaps-the-greatest-contribution-that-those-of-us-who-come-from-a/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) ## More by Christopher Dawson > [You can give men food and leisure and amusements and good conditions of work, and still they will remain unsatisfied. You can deny them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/you-can-give-men-food-and-leisure-and-amusements-and-good-conditions/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [It is Christian culture that has created Western man and the Western way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/it-is-christian-culture-that-has-created-western-man-and-the-western/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [No civilisation, not even that of ancient Greece, has ever undergone such a continuous and profound process of change as Western Europe has done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/no-civilisation-not-even-that-of-ancient-greece-has-ever-undergone/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [The present age has seen a great slump in humanist values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/the-present-age-has-seen-a-great-slump-in-humanist-values/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [Man can know his world without falling back on revelation; he can live his life without feeling his utter dependence on supernatural powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/man-can-know-his-world-without-falling-back-on-revelation-he-can-live/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [The intercourse between the Mediterranean and the North or between the Atlantic and Central Europe was never purely economic or political; it also meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/the-intercourse-between-the-mediterranean-and-the-north-or-between/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [The chief safeguard of personal freedom in a democratic society is the anarchy and disorder of capitalist individualism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/the-chief-safeguard-of-personal-freedom-in-a-democratic-society-is/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [And so, today, if the state can no longer appeal to the old moral principles that belong to the Christian tradition, it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/and-so-today-if-the-state-can-no-longer-appeal-to-the-old-moral/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [Humanism and Divinity are as complementary to one another in theorder of culture, as are Nature and Grace in the order of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/humanism-and-divinity-are-as-complementary-to-one-another-in-theorder/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [We have entered a new phase of culture - we may call it the Age of the Cinema - in which the most amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/we-have-entered-a-new-phase-of-culture-we-may-call-it-the-age-of-the/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [“Culture was actually humanity’s attempt to extend the womb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/culture-was-actually-humanity-s-attempt-to-extend-the-womb/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [For humanism also appeals to man as man. It seeks to liberate the universal qualities of human nature from the narrow limitations of blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/for-humanism-also-appeals-to-man-as-man-it-seeks-to-liberate-the/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [This freedom of political discussion on the highest level is something which Western civilization has in common with that of classical antiquity, but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/this-freedom-of-political-discussion-on-the-highest-level-is/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [The Church as a divine society possess an internal principle of life which is capable of assimilating the most diverse materials and imprinting her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/the-church-as-a-divine-society-possess-an-internal-principle-of-life/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [If man attempts to suppress the animal side of his nature by a sheer effort of conscious will, nature finds a hundred unexpected and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/if-man-attempts-to-suppress-the-animal-side-of-his-nature-by-a-sheer/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) [Explore all 43 Christopher Dawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that is the most fundamental element in Western culture. It lies at the base not only of Western religion, but also of Western morals and Western social idealism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Dawson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christian-tradition-that-is-the-most/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christian-tradition-that-is-the-most/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/christopher-dawson-15516_christian_as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christia_3119050.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I have pointed out, it is the Christian tradition that is the most fundamental element in Western…” — Christopher Dawson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christopher Dawson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As I have pointed out, it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christian-tradition-that-is-the-most/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/as-i-have-pointed-out-it-is-the-christian-tradition-that-is-the-most/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```