Shaping Christian Identity through the Footprints of Culture
Culture is a very powerful force that impacts and molds distinct characteristics and components within specific human groups and histories. Throughout the "footprints" of the Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and Counter-Reformation cultures, Christian identity has been uniquely shaped on the basis of several values that have arisen from the interaction of complementary and clashing experiences, actions, ideals, and beliefs. Even though each unique time period encompassed specific values that were conserved, realized, reinforced, or vanished in response to a series of historical circumstances, all of the periods generated an intercultural and intracultural impact within the roots, developments, and modifications of Christian identity in the past and today.
Christian identity during the Ancient Period was primarily determined by hope, patient endurance, and perseverance in faith in the midst of imperial power and persecution. The Gospels and martyrdom accounts encouraged early Christians to direct their eyes to God alone, in order to strengthen their faiths and to overcome the challenges of the Roman Empire. Paganism and imperial authority sought to divide the early Christian community; nevertheless, the heroic tales of martyrs, as well as the teaching and stories of Jesus provided Christians with a unique identity based on values, such as community, faith, perseverance, and hope. During the Medieval Period, Christian identity was founded on human recognition of sin and detachment from worldly pleasures, in order to encounter God in eternal life throughout the imitation of Jesus' sacrificial example and life. The Christian Empire and the societal hierarchy during the Middle Ages promoted values that permanently clashed with the values proposed by figures like Francis and Clare. However, this pluralism in culture allowed Francis and Clare to restore Christian identity on the basis of a renewed path of holiness. In the Renaissance, secularism was reinforced, the Classics were revived and humanity was exalted. Faith and reason constituted the fundamental values that authentically shaped Christian identity on the basis of the pursue of a perfect and excellent Ideal. The glory of the human, the recognition of sin, and the focus on the present life constituted primary values that were preserved and realized during the Renaissance. During the Counter-Reformation, the grandeur of the Church was revived and therefore, the values of Christian doctrine, spirituality, and triumph of the Church molded Christian identity, in order to revitalize the importance and significance of the Church in the individual lives of Christians.
It is very interesting to analyze how history repeats itself throughout time and how Christian identity follows a whole continuum of values, ideals, and beliefs within unique cultures. In fact, the clash between paganism and Christianity was present during the Ancient and Renaissance periods; as well, the recognition of human sin was an essential value during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The imitation of Jesus Christ through his life, teachings, and example was a fundamental value during Ancient history, the Middle Ages, and the Counter-Reformation. Christian identity has been modified throughout history, but at the same time, it has gone through a process of continuity and repetition, depending on the influences and impacts of culture.
Christian identity during the Ancient Period was primarily determined by hope, patient endurance, and perseverance in faith in the midst of imperial power and persecution. The Gospels and martyrdom accounts encouraged early Christians to direct their eyes to God alone, in order to strengthen their faiths and to overcome the challenges of the Roman Empire. Paganism and imperial authority sought to divide the early Christian community; nevertheless, the heroic tales of martyrs, as well as the teaching and stories of Jesus provided Christians with a unique identity based on values, such as community, faith, perseverance, and hope. During the Medieval Period, Christian identity was founded on human recognition of sin and detachment from worldly pleasures, in order to encounter God in eternal life throughout the imitation of Jesus' sacrificial example and life. The Christian Empire and the societal hierarchy during the Middle Ages promoted values that permanently clashed with the values proposed by figures like Francis and Clare. However, this pluralism in culture allowed Francis and Clare to restore Christian identity on the basis of a renewed path of holiness. In the Renaissance, secularism was reinforced, the Classics were revived and humanity was exalted. Faith and reason constituted the fundamental values that authentically shaped Christian identity on the basis of the pursue of a perfect and excellent Ideal. The glory of the human, the recognition of sin, and the focus on the present life constituted primary values that were preserved and realized during the Renaissance. During the Counter-Reformation, the grandeur of the Church was revived and therefore, the values of Christian doctrine, spirituality, and triumph of the Church molded Christian identity, in order to revitalize the importance and significance of the Church in the individual lives of Christians.
It is very interesting to analyze how history repeats itself throughout time and how Christian identity follows a whole continuum of values, ideals, and beliefs within unique cultures. In fact, the clash between paganism and Christianity was present during the Ancient and Renaissance periods; as well, the recognition of human sin was an essential value during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The imitation of Jesus Christ through his life, teachings, and example was a fundamental value during Ancient history, the Middle Ages, and the Counter-Reformation. Christian identity has been modified throughout history, but at the same time, it has gone through a process of continuity and repetition, depending on the influences and impacts of culture.
Although each one of the time periods that were knowledgeably and deeply analyzed comprised unique cultural influences and characteristics, as well as distinct complementary and clashing values, the roots of Christian identity have remained throughout a stupendous history. Today, Christian identity incorporates several values from each one of the past time periods, but the culture in which Christianity is being shaped nowadays is totally unique; consequently, Christian identity today is entirely different from the past periods. Christian identity today cannot be minimized or marginalized; on the contrary, it must be exalted as an authentic combination of harmonizing and opposing values that have given rise to an exceptional Christian culture. Precisely, nowadays, the clash between paganism (Ancient), spirituality (Medieval), humanism and individualism (Renaissance), and the power of the Church (Counter-Reformation) has given rise to a very plural Christian identity, that has generated some confusion and mistaken ideals and beliefs. Nevertheless, it is fundamental to remember that today's culture is completely different from the past and that the values of Christian identity can be repeated or vanished throughout history, in order to generate a whole Christian continuum determined by the interaction among peoples within an entire human community. Today, Christianity needs a historic revival; Christians must remember their stupendous past, in order to shape a renewed identity in the midst of indifference, ignorance, complacency, and doubt.