Change the world Quote by Christopher Henry Dawson
““Today everybody admits that something is wrong with the world, and the critics of Christianity are the very people who feel this most. The most violent attacks on religion come from those who are most anxious to change the world, and they attack Christianity because they think that it is an obstructive force that stands in the way of a real reform of human life. There has seldom been a time in which men were more dissatisfied with life and the more conscious of the need for deliverance, and if they turn away from Christianity it is because they feel that Christianity is a servant of the established order and that it has no real power or will to change the world and to rescue man from his present difficulties. They have lost their faith in the old spiritual traditions that inspired civilization in the past, and they tend to look for a solution in some external practical remedy such as communism, or the scientific organisation of life; something definite and objective that can be applied to society as a whole.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Evolution of Faith, 1935
The author argues that critics of Christianity, driven by anxiety for change, often attack it as an obstacle, preferring secular solutions like communism or scientific organization.
In simple terms: Critics see Christianity as a barrier and turn to secular fixes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize underlying anxieties behind religious criticism.
Themes
religion
criticism
anxiety
change
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- academic discussions
- personal belief crises
Key Concepts
secularism
political ideology
social reform
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people seek material solutions for spiritual discontent?
- Can faith and progress coexist?
A Different Perspective
Secular solutions may not address deeper spiritual needs.
