Charles Taylor on What Makes Christianity Unique

The paradox of Christianity, in relation to early religion, is that on one hand, it seems to assert the unconditional benevolence of God towards humans; there is none of the ambivalence of early Divinity in this respect; and yet it redefines our ends so as to take us beyond flourishing.

– Charles Taylor, A Secular Age (2007), p. 151

It is often claimed that what marks Christianity out from all other religions is — grace. Christianity holds that people do not work to win the favour of God. A religious life does not consist in the performing of certain rituals and rites to placate an angry God or to secure a place in the afterlife. On the contrary, Christianity claims to God is good, that God is for us, that God is giving and generous, and that God has done something wonderful. 

The above quote from Roman Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor throws this into an interesting light. Compared with all the other Ancient religions of the Near East and Mediterranean worlds, Taylor says that this belief in the fundamental goodness of God is unique. All other religions held that God is either indifferent or hostile towards humanity. People then needed to pray, to sacrifice, to pilgrimage, to go through certain ceremonies in order to get God’s attention, or to bribe God into being on their side. 

So when people wanted to be preserved from disease, sterility, spared from death, plauge or famine; when people wanted prosperity, health, fertility, victory, success, a plentiful harvest, protection or a long life, they would engage in religious activity which would attempt to win the favour of/bribe/pacify an angry or indifferent God.

What Taylor is saying in the above quote is that when you place Christianity within the ancient pagan world, two things become striking.

First, there is no need to placate, bribe or attempt to catch the attention of God.

Second, (and this is where the paradox comes in) although there is no need to catch God’s attention in this way, Christianity held that the purpose of religion was so much more than safeguarding individual prosperity. Ancient religions saw religion and God as the means to the ends of human flourishing. In their case, this means was particularly demanding and elusive. Christianity held that God is not demanding or elusive in the sense discussed above, but having a conception of individual human flourishing as the goal of religion simply would not do. Religion is bigger than a means to ensuring a terrific, safe and full life. Christianity redefines what the end of a human life ought to be and this is fundamentally more than individual prosperity.

This, of course, begs the question – ‘Well just what is the goal of human life to be?’ Taylor leaves this question lingering and does not provide an answer to it, though he clearly believes Christianity has one.

Bringing this insight into the Twenty-First Century, I think Taylor helpfully points out what is still a unique dimension of Christianity. Following Jesus is not a means to a successful job and happy lifestyle, a beautiful family, or the satisfying of particular religious urges. It is much more.

Christianity, Taylor believes, should always ask us to look beyond whatever the settled conception of human flourishing – a good life – may be. Do you think that Christianity is still doing this?