The 23 in 2023 challenge has taken on a particularly Ancient theme, hasn’t it? I put that down to my husband giving suggestions when I was trying to come up with 23 books I hadn’t read. There’s still a book on Socrates to come, but for now I’m reviewing one of the last books about the Ancient world. Enter The Final Pagan Generation by Edward Watts.
Plot summary: The Final Pagan Generation
Watts discusses how Pagan Rome became Christian, following what he terms the final pagan generation through early 300s to the early 400s. He charts the rise of Christianity, as it went from a persecuted and fringe religion to a powerhouse in civic and private life. Watts contrasts this with the way in which the Pagans tried to slow or stop it’s spread. The key premise of his book is that they were particularly ineffectual at this because they were trying to work within existing civic and social boundaries, while Christians formed parallel structures and used them to grow.
Parallels to now and parallels for the win
This book has been touted by Rod Dreher, who has written a series of essays on this book. They’re worth a read. Rod makes the point that Christians today are living in much the same way the Pagans were in Watt’s analysis. Most are cultural, following through the outwards signs without having a true, living belief in Christianity. I could definitely see those parallels to now as I read through.
Today, I often see Christians trying to fight the culture war within the existing civic and social structures. But it doesn’t work. The game has changed and most Christians either don’t see it or aren’t equipped to work in this new space.
I can also see how effective the parallel structures were for the Christians in Ancient times. They were able to support each other, even while the wider culture was against them (often violently so). Not only could they encourage each other to carry on the faith, but they could also provide physical and financial support. These are not minor considerations. Man might not live on bread alone, but it certainly helps. The support of the Christian network enabled them to eventually reach office and begin to shift policy towards supporting Christianity and suppressing Paganism.
Time for your own parallel structures
Honestly, I think it behoves Christians today to form parallel networks. If we are to maintain our faith and families through difficult times and future persecution, we should be setting these up now. I’ll end with this quote from Rod Dreher’s essay. I think is a good summary of things we could be doing:
Rod Dreher ‘Learning from the Final Pagan Generation’
- Stop thinking that it’s always going to be this way, and that anything short of radical action is sufficient. The mindset of older Christians may actually be a hindrance, because they don’t understand how radically different the world today is.
- Do not mistake the presence of Christian churches and symbols in public life for the true condition of Christianity in the hearts and minds of people. Remember, the pagan temples and statues of the gods remained long after paganism was a dead letter.
- Clean up our own churches. Stop tolerating corruption within the church — especially corruption that benefits the leadership class, at the expense of the church’s authority and integrity. Watts presents no evidence that pagan temples were corrupt. I bring this up simply to point out that Christians are in an existential fight, and cannot afford to have our own positions weakened by internal corruption.
- Train ourselves and our children to stand aside from the promises of the world, and to cultivate asceticism, like the elite Christians of the mid-fourth century did. Only then will we develop the heart and the mind to resist.
- Understand that we, like the final pagan generation, might think we are fighting for tolerance, but our opponents are fighting for victory. We have to change our tactics. We are bad at asymmetrical warfare. Frankly, like an old pagan of the fourth century, I would prefer to fight for tolerance — but that is not the fight that’s upon us.
- Neither abandon politics entirely, nor put too much faith in princes. Elites cultivated relationships within the imperial power structure, and served that power structure. But the real work of conversion happened among the people, through the labors and examples of saintly ascetics and charismatics.
