One of the great pillars of Western civilization is the belief in human dignity—that every person possesses value simply by virtue of being human. Now, this belief hasn’t always been the default. Many ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome granted some sort of dignity and political voice, but often only to those of certain class or status. So where, then, did the idea come from that every human being has inherent worth and value?
Surprisingly, many secular thinkers will freely admit that it was Christianity! Friedrich Nietzsche, who famously declared “God is dead,” nonetheless admitted that human dignity was born from Christian ideals—though he viewed this as a weakness. Another thinker, the French philosopher Luc Ferry, argues in A Brief History of Thought that Christianity introduced the idea that all people are equal, no matter their abilities, status, or outward appearance—an idea foreign to earlier cultures. Ferry points out that nations with Christian roots have more often built free societies and stable democracies. Christianity teaches that every person is made in the image of God, and that belief underlies the idea of equality. It’s echoed in America’s founding documents: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” But what does “equal” really mean here? It doesn’t mean identical in talent or circumstance. Rather, it’s about shared dignity—something internal, something given. Of course, America hasn’t always lived up to that ideal. Many were excluded from equality and dignity by injustice, discrimination, and worldly prejudices. Still, the idea persisted and shaped the West’s greatest achievements.
But what happens when a civilization drifts from the religious roots that gave it life? As theologian Os Guinness once remarked, the West is now like a “cut flower civilization”—beautiful, but cut off from the soil of conviction and truth that once fed its flourishing. In recent years, dignity has been recast: it’s not seen as intrinsic but conditional—based often on personal choices or identities. When that happens, the foundation cracks. Civilizations severed from their grounding convictions don’t usually last. They either revive, revolute, or decline.
So where are we today? The question isn’t just what has made the West great—but how should we live here and now, embracing those original ideals? Radical Marxists are currently trying the revolution route. Decline seems inevitable and all around us. But I truly believe we can revive the roots of the Christian West. It will take great sacrifice and hard work to achieve restoration, but I believe it can and must happen. Conservatives of faith must be unified in facing these big questions that face America. We would love to have you join with the Eagles at Phyllis Schlafly dot com – again go to PhyllisSchlafly.com to plug into great national network of people and resources. Thank you for listening and join us next time for the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/constitution/religious-liberty/christian-values-built-the-west/
Phyllis Schlafly