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Foundations of Christian Culture
There was a time when society was inspired by Christian principles. Art, government, society emulated, as much as possible, the search for perfection dictated by the call to virtue. Ultimately, the twentieth century's many disasters and Christendom's failure to stop revolution and world war have discredited Christianity itself in the eyes of many.
Nevertheless, I am convinced that only Christianity can revitalize a culture that has lost most of its connection with beauty and that glorifies banality, variety, and diversity as ends in themselves. However, this would not be a retread of historical Christendom, but a new vision, predicated on the new realities of an increasingly Neo-pagan and Transhumanist West. According to Ivan Ilyin,
"The Gospel teaches not flight from the world, but the Christianization of the world. Thus, the sciences, the arts, politics, and the social order can all be those spiritual hands with which the Christian takes the world. And the calling of a Christian is not to chop off those hands, but to imbue their work and toil with the living spirit of Christ. Christianity has a great calling, which many do not ever realize. This purpose can be defined as the creation of a Christian culture."
This book is Ivan Ilyin's spiritual and practical handbook at creating Christian culture in an increasingly post-Christian world. Translated by Nicholas Kotar
Nevertheless, I am convinced that only Christianity can revitalize a culture that has lost most of its connection with beauty and that glorifies banality, variety, and diversity as ends in themselves. However, this would not be a retread of historical Christendom, but a new vision, predicated on the new realities of an increasingly Neo-pagan and Transhumanist West. According to Ivan Ilyin,
"The Gospel teaches not flight from the world, but the Christianization of the world. Thus, the sciences, the arts, politics, and the social order can all be those spiritual hands with which the Christian takes the world. And the calling of a Christian is not to chop off those hands, but to imbue their work and toil with the living spirit of Christ. Christianity has a great calling, which many do not ever realize. This purpose can be defined as the creation of a Christian culture."
This book is Ivan Ilyin's spiritual and practical handbook at creating Christian culture in an increasingly post-Christian world. Translated by Nicholas Kotar
63 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2019
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224 people want to read
About the author
Ivan Ilyin
15 books40 followersIvan Alexandrovich Ilyin (Russian: Ива́н Алекса́ндрович Ильи́н) was a Russian religious and political philosopher, White emigre publicist and an ideologue of the Russian All-Military Union.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 4, 2020
A short book, but full of concentrated hope
I read this slim volume in the days of the global pandemic, when the riots in the States threatened to overwhelm the dreary days' litanies of new accommodations, shifts in the heavy burdens placed and kept on huge populations around the world. it has been easy, for me, to dig my hands and heart into projects of utmost practicality and into prayer. But this book is a reminder that faith and our hearts sometimes require an object outside of our end goal - way stations of hope to feed and restore us. Ilyin's essays present, polished and gleaming like antique store treasures, the promise of rediscovering an appetite for truth and beauty. Today I will go out to my garden and work, but in my heart and mind will be the fairy tales he invokes, and my ears will be filled with Rachmaninoff. Maybe it is true, what Dostoyevsky said. Maybe, in the last analysis, "beauty will save the world".
I read this slim volume in the days of the global pandemic, when the riots in the States threatened to overwhelm the dreary days' litanies of new accommodations, shifts in the heavy burdens placed and kept on huge populations around the world. it has been easy, for me, to dig my hands and heart into projects of utmost practicality and into prayer. But this book is a reminder that faith and our hearts sometimes require an object outside of our end goal - way stations of hope to feed and restore us. Ilyin's essays present, polished and gleaming like antique store treasures, the promise of rediscovering an appetite for truth and beauty. Today I will go out to my garden and work, but in my heart and mind will be the fairy tales he invokes, and my ears will be filled with Rachmaninoff. Maybe it is true, what Dostoyevsky said. Maybe, in the last analysis, "beauty will save the world".
May 21, 2020
“[Creation of Christian culture] does not mean destroying all that came before, but creatively transforming it all through the profound depths of a transfigured and free spirit. Secular culture wil not be destroyed, then, but will be transfigured and given spiritual depths though free contemplation, the spirit of love, the spirit of organic, sincere form, through a wil toward objective perfection.” (38)
A very important and timely translation about how we as Christians are called to accept and transfigure the world instead of rejecting the world in its entirely in order to cocreate. We continue the transfiguration of the world that Christ accomplished in the incarnation.
“This means that we do not imagine that the next generation of people can or must ‘create Christian culture.’ Not ‘create,’ but once again to step on the path of that creation, to return to it and renew this process, which has been historically interrupted. In other words, we must renew the Christian spirit and action within ourselves first, then bring it to our creativity in the world.” (38)
This little book also contains a lecture from Ilyin on “The Spiritual Meaning of Stories,” an article by Ilyin entitled “What is Art?” And an essay/blog post from the translator using Ilyin’s writings to draw a distinction between patriotism and nationalism.
A very important and timely translation about how we as Christians are called to accept and transfigure the world instead of rejecting the world in its entirely in order to cocreate. We continue the transfiguration of the world that Christ accomplished in the incarnation.
“This means that we do not imagine that the next generation of people can or must ‘create Christian culture.’ Not ‘create,’ but once again to step on the path of that creation, to return to it and renew this process, which has been historically interrupted. In other words, we must renew the Christian spirit and action within ourselves first, then bring it to our creativity in the world.” (38)
This little book also contains a lecture from Ilyin on “The Spiritual Meaning of Stories,” an article by Ilyin entitled “What is Art?” And an essay/blog post from the translator using Ilyin’s writings to draw a distinction between patriotism and nationalism.
May 11, 2020
Not at all what I was expecting
When I hear “culture” I immediately think geopolitics, sociology and small t traditions. This book doesn’t talk about any of that! As a pragmatic Western Christian, I was blown away with this book’s view of art & beauty as the formative ingredients of culture and indeed the sum and substance of Christian culture. The eastern mind on this topic is a very refreshing point of view. Very easy & accessible read. 5 stars & highly recommended. 😎👍
When I hear “culture” I immediately think geopolitics, sociology and small t traditions. This book doesn’t talk about any of that! As a pragmatic Western Christian, I was blown away with this book’s view of art & beauty as the formative ingredients of culture and indeed the sum and substance of Christian culture. The eastern mind on this topic is a very refreshing point of view. Very easy & accessible read. 5 stars & highly recommended. 😎👍
December 30, 2025
This is maybe one of the best ideologies that can be used in any Christian national-socialist fascist regimes. I know people may be coming here because of the wish to understand the illness of Russia and the will to understand Putin's world-frame. Which is all fine, but there is a clear use of this and similar learning in an actual historical place - Romania of pre- and during-WWII - under the Iron Guard, which was all this, nationalist - pure Romanians, Christian - leaning highly orthodox, fascist - "cleaning" the population, authoritarian - with a poster boy. We all know how that ended, in two steps, one at Stalingrad, the next Soviet invasion.
Now, on the analysis of the text, this is clearly addressed to fringe thinkers, with highly commercial packaging, made to be palatable to the "atemporal", magic thinking, wide-eyed individual, standing alone gullible, blinded by the highly articulated text, that is written to reinforce excess, and eliminate real judgement.
No need to print this, read it digitally.
Save toilet paper!
Now, on the analysis of the text, this is clearly addressed to fringe thinkers, with highly commercial packaging, made to be palatable to the "atemporal", magic thinking, wide-eyed individual, standing alone gullible, blinded by the highly articulated text, that is written to reinforce excess, and eliminate real judgement.
No need to print this, read it digitally.
Save toilet paper!
July 2, 2020
A tiny little book full of incredible wisdom! While it's not at all about homeschooling I especially appreciated it BECAUSE I am a homeschooler who is trying to do exactly what Ilyin is talking about - build Christian culture in my home in such a way that my children also will have the capacity to continue to build it themselves.
A couple quotes to share:
"Thus, flowing from the Spirit of Christ, we may bless, give meaning to, and creatively transfigure the world, not condemning its external forms and laws, not to debilitate its spiritual power, but to overcome it all, transfigure it, and beautifully give it form through love, will, thought, labor, creativity, and inspiration."
"The essential purpose of Christianity in this sphere is to sanctify every moment of earthly toil and suffering..."
A couple quotes to share:
"Thus, flowing from the Spirit of Christ, we may bless, give meaning to, and creatively transfigure the world, not condemning its external forms and laws, not to debilitate its spiritual power, but to overcome it all, transfigure it, and beautifully give it form through love, will, thought, labor, creativity, and inspiration."
"The essential purpose of Christianity in this sphere is to sanctify every moment of earthly toil and suffering..."
September 21, 2024
A splendid breakdown of what it means to pursue an authentic Christian culture.
Ilyin really offers a lot of insights into the human spirit and mind in this book too. Strongly recommend to anyone interested in Christianity, history, and culture.
Ilyin really offers a lot of insights into the human spirit and mind in this book too. Strongly recommend to anyone interested in Christianity, history, and culture.
November 21, 2022
Ivan Ilyin's fantastic analysis of the problems plaguing nihilistic modern society.
April 17, 2024
Good primer
April 17, 2024
Great ideas on how to become a steadfast Christian. Some of the ideas on how to promote a Christian Culture are extreme, but he makes valid points.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews