What Happened to Christian Innovations?
We all know that Christianity has bequeathed the world many civilisational advances in the past, from orphanages, schools and hospitals to the end of slavery and the emergence of human rights.
But what innovations or advancements has Christianity produced in the last hundred years?
Christianity feels like a religion that has lost its vitality, direction and purpose.
Passive
These days, Christians either affirm the innovations of other movements (read secular) by christening them with some biblical, ecclesial or theological warrant or bunker down and fight rearguard actions against reforms advanced by others on the basis of some putative biblical, ecclesial or theological warrant.
In both cases, it is now a passenger in a car driven by others. What distinguishes Christians is whether they are excited and enthusiastic about the driver or discontent and angry at the driver. Lamentable.
___
Originally published on Dr Jonathan Cole’s page.
Subscribe to his podcast, The Political Animals, for more insights.
Photo by Pixabay.
3 Comments
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
21 August 2026
2.9 MINS
Ardie Savea and Siya Kolisi, rival captains united in faith, worshipped together ahead of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry — revealing how Christ grounds each of them on and off the field.
21 August 2026
1.8 MINS
Archbishop Fisher accuses ABC of bias in voluntary assisted dying coverage, demands formal investigation into impartiality breaches over telehealth ban debate.
21 August 2026
2.9 MINS
An Australian-designed nuclear microreactor, built in just 150 days, has been sold to a US firm after federal and state bans blocked its development at home — the latest in a long line of missed Australian innovations.
21 August 2026
2.9 MINS
When five men are accused, "all men" bear the guilt — but when a woman errs, she's just an individual. This piece asks why identity logic only turns rigid on demand.
21 August 2026
4.4 MINS
I have been researching and studying the biomechanics of the human body for over 30 years, and have seen firsthand how modern scientific discoveries have confirmed that the human body is a design masterpiece.
20 August 2026
4 MINS
Young Australians face a housing crisis decades in the making. This piece argues political choices—not fate—locked a generation out of the Australian Dream, and calls for national renewal.
20 August 2026
3.1 MINS
The ABC surprises with a balanced report on Gym Church, a Melbourne-born Christian fitness ministry now spreading nationally — exploring why Gen Z men are turning to faith.
Very lamentable, there seems to me to be a vacuum of Christian leadership on the back of an abhorrence of political engagement by most Christians.
You make a valid point Jonathan. Not so long ago I would have made it much more strongly but since my return to Him a few short years ago I am learning just how much courage it really takes, to actually live out our amazingly beautiful faith.
Kaylene, many thanks, most salutatory. I agree, and I count myself hardly started. Shalom, Jim