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Dominion

The Making of the Western Mind

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Dominion

By: Tom Holland, Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Narrated by: Tom Holland
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'If great books encourage you to look at the world in an entirely new way, then Dominion is a very great book indeed . . . Written with terrific learning, enthusiasm and good humour, Holland's book is not just supremely provocative, but often very funny' Sunday Times History Book of the Year

Christianity is the most enduring and influential legacy of the ancient world, and its emergence the single most transformative development in Western history. Even the increasing number in the West today who have abandoned the faith of their forebears, and dismiss all religion as pointless superstition, remain recognisably its heirs. Seen close-up, the division between a sceptic and a believer may seem unbridgeable. Widen the focus, though, and Christianity's enduring impact upon the West can be seen in the emergence of much that has traditionally been cast as its nemesis: in science, in secularism, and yes, even in atheism.

That is why Dominion will place the story of how we came to be what we are, and how we think the way that we do, in the broadest historical context. Ranging in time from the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC to the on-going migration crisis in Europe today, and from Nebuchadnezzar to the Beatles, it will explore just what it was that made Christianity so revolutionary and disruptive; how completely it came to saturate the mind-set of Latin Christendom; and why, in a West that has become increasingly doubtful of religion's claims, so many of its instincts remain irredeemably Christian. The aim is twofold: to make the listener appreciate just how novel and uncanny were Christian teachings when they first appeared in the world; and to make ourselves, and all that we take for granted, appear similarly strange in consequence. We stand at the end-point of an extraordinary transformation in the understanding of what it is to be human: one that can only be fully appreciated by tracing the arc of its parabola over millennia.

©2019 Tom Holland (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK Ancient Christianity Europe Great Britain Funny Thought-Provoking Middle Ages Ancient History
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A fascinating view of the influence of Christian ethics and a Christian worldview on so much of history in the West and further afield. Although it recognises the “audacity” of the core belief that God died on a cross it doesn’t reflect on the crucial belief to Christians that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Therefore it sadly fails to recognise that true Christianity is a relationship with the living God who himself came to die on a cross to make that relationship possible. It is not just another religion requiring followers to work their way to a god or whatever paradise is promised, for our God came to us!

It’s an understandable mistake that many in the west who would call themselves Christian’s sadly make too. But Christianity isn’t a dry set of morals and rituals, it’s a relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ through His word by His Spirit. That is the key to why Christianity has survived so long and is growing so fast now in the southern hemisphere, especially in places theoretically closed to Christian evangelism.

This is an interesting secular book. It gives credit to the Bible for much of western thinking and principles of human rights. Which seems to make sense. But don’t read it expecting to understand Christianity. Much that is quoted as Paul’s belief from an out of context Bible quote is misinterpreted because it isn’t fully understood. But overall it’s an interesting view of history.

An interesting view of history

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Western moral values — universal human dignity, concern for victims, the moral authority of the weak, the accountability of the powerful, the dignity of the individual conscience — were particularly Christian creations. However, much of its modern day expression (say the last two hundred or so years) is NOT entirely attributable to Christianity as Tom Holland is claiming towards the end of the book.
Stage development models such Spiral Dynamics and Ken Wilber’s integral theory, Kohlberg’s moral stages, Robert Kegan’s orders of mind, Jane Loevinger’s ego development, Susanne Cook-Greuter’s extensions, Jean Gebser’s structures of consciousness, among many others, share a common claim: human consciousness and culture evolve through identifiable stages, each with its own characteristic values, worldview, and capacities. These stages are roughly universal across cultures, even if certain cultural content differs.
Many modern day values that may appear to have Christian origins are instead developmental capacities that any civilisation, no matter where in the world, reaching those stages will manifest in some form.

Strong argument but…

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Tom Holland always does his research and always writes well, and this book is no exception. This book neither over chastises nor praises Christianity. It is the story of how a provincial religion bullied, murdered and subjugated its way around the world, and it’s told with academic detachment, but not in shying away from the facts.

I have two criticisms above all others. Whatever else Christianity is, it is based on the philosophical teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The author’s decision to discuss the life and works of every Christian thinker except Jesus, therefore, strikes me as odd. No attempt is made to frame the first Christians, the so-called Disciples, in a historical context. The drama between Peter and Mark, for example, is well worth a chapter in such a book as this.

My second concern is that while I agree in principle with the author’s main thesis - that even non- and anti-Christian thinking in Europe particularly is nonetheless a product of centuries of Christianity - I think he misses the point of this. Yes, we have habits based on inbuilt cultural assumptions. But there’s an almost dismissive tone that suggests even when we try to combat Christianity’s worst ideas, we’re just being Christian about it. The thing is, when trying to escape a dangerous or abusive system (such as a cult, a hostile government, or the oppression of churches), we are still burdened by the situation we are trying to get through.

I’ve given this book a high rating and I mean it. An excellent read, and these two criticisms are a bit of a shame but not enough to ruin the overall piece. Tom Holland continues to be one of my favourite modern historians, as long as I never seek out his hot takes on social media.

A well researched history that may miss the point

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Dominion by Tom Holland is the best book I’ve listened to in years. Packed with fascinating facts, often deeply touching, it completely reshaped my understanding of modern European ideologies and political movements. Holland’s narration is superb—his voice is warm, expressive, and perfectly paced, keeping me utterly engaged from start to finish. Highly recommended.

Highly recommend.

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What a Tour de Force. So much information distilled into understanding. Thank you so much.

Brilliant

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