Thoughts on Ryan N.S. Topping's Method of Rebuilding Christendom Culture
The present-day finds us no longer in a Christendom culture, and thus requires a similar need of apostolic mission as the early Church with several key distinctions. The question of what the Church's mission looks like and how to go about it are essential. We cannot expect that the means/methods of the mission in the past will be effective on the grounds of new issues and means of communications are employed, as well as new skepticisms, philosophies, etc. are to be addressed. There have been many who claim to have the answers to the problem. Some even incorporate, God. However, because of their simplistic lack of consideration to their contingencies, they are often as successful as get-to-heaven-quick schemes, get-rich-quick schemes, etc. Here are my reservations to Ryan Topping's approach to this conundrum in his book, Rebuilding Catholic Culture.
Topping suggests to rebuild a Christendom Culture we must “End abortion, have more children, teach them Latin, and build beautiful Churches”.[1] Whereas I do not fully agree, I do not fully disagree. In terms of ending abortion, I feel the end of abortion is not so much a cause but an effect. The fact that abortion is debated, as to whether it is right or wrong, suggests something has moved society to believe prenatal homicide might be “ok”. It is thus clear that society is often lead by evil spirits. To what next sin shall society come upon? Having “more children” would not revive Catholic Culture, but is essential to Topping’s method. Liturgical and architectural beauty are both great things, but they are not sufficient for belief in Church teaching nor do they provide a reason to return to Mass.
Cumulatively, the idea is well-thought-out, good, and may even prove effective most of the time, however, its true success is based on something that has never been guaranteed even (and possibly even especially) for Catholics, conversion. Should we seek to accomplish this system? I think so, however, we should not expect results (close to perfect) from something only striving Catholics would implement nor from that which does not perfectly include God’s Will. To clarify: I agree that the battlefield for culture is “for the family, for the school, for the hospital, and for the Church”, but I disagree that a strategy of just our own efforts, without explicit reference to God’s Specific and Ordaining Will, will be successful.[2] The New Evangelization must incorporate new methods adapted for the time, and have fundamentally different content than the mission of the early church and the medieval era.
FN:
- Ryan N.S. Topping. Rebuilding Catholic Culture: How the Catechism Can Shape our Common Life (Manchester, New Hampshire: Sophia Institute Press, 2012), 237.
- Rebuilding Catholic Culture: How the Catechism Can Shape our Common Life, 239.
