Inventing the Individual: the Origins of Western Liberalism
Book review by Nick Bensted, writing for Anglican Mainstream.
I was encouraged to read Larry Siedentop’s ‘Inventing the individual: the origins of Western liberalism’ on hearing of its recommendation by Michael Gove. Gove seems to have grown some interest in sensible Christianity. Whatever else one may have to say about the former cabinet minister, this book provides something of a contrast to the chart topping presence of Richard Dawkins on the reading list of some previous governments.
Given the demise of the Liberal Party and the generally confused and immoral notions of what stands for liberty today, we need clearer concepts of freedom. Where are the freedoms to reform the political, social and moral structures of our society? Such positive values are being lost to a Britain that very often has it’s vision obscured by what appears to be a prime objective to defend and promote the activities of sexual minorities. In a much grander vision, Siedentop defines and delineates the true origins of our now threatened modern western liberties.
From the fall of the Roman Empire and its assumption of privilege, until the twelfth and thirteenth century, Europe became shaped into a continent that became progressively aware of the moral, philosophical, judicial and political relevance of the individual. This was mediated by the rise of bishops as de facto leaders of cities, the development of monasteries as a rhythm of life, and the rights of artisans to conduct their trade without being too heavily taxed by overlords. Siedentop roots such influences in the church’s teaching on the individuality of souls accountable to God, providing as it did an overall structure of conscience and justice.
Much can be enjoyed in the book; There is the transformative influence of Paul in teaching individual salvation, and a social ethic based on equality, a bishopric and a papacy, that in the aftermath of the collapse of Rome define and delineate the legal rights of individuals, thus defending justice against naturalist assumptions of ancient imperial privilege.
A kingship whose sovereignty is hammered out in respect of the church’s reforms in canon law, extending power to subjects oppressed by feudal lords.
Boroughs which gain legal independence and jurisdiction through the defence of artisans and merchants from the arbitrary overreach of taxes and impositions, thereby creating the first secular state, entirely separate and yet influenced by the church’s pioneering work in being the cure of individual souls.
And so Siedentop traces the historical stages and ideas which have shaped our concept of modern individual liberty. This is a positively progressive point of view, and assumes linear development within history, focusing as it does on the social politic and symmetry of church and state, leaving aside the more gruesome aspects of challenge and conflict perhaps, and an overarching theology of salvation and judgement.
But it is surely necessary historical truth in challenging the modern assumption of both Christians and ‘secularists’ alike that the secular is necessarily ‘mere consumerism, materialism and amorality’. In contrast to this it can be seen how the secular has been (before the reformation), through the influence of Christianity, ‘Europe’s noblest achievement, ‘a gift from the church’, (p.360) and a realm of life full of moral content.
Yes, secularism is an area of life which must necessarily include aspects separate from the church, since it is this age in ultimate contrast to the age to come! However, Siedentop ably demonstrates how significant aspects of what we take for granted as individual liberty today, is a sphere originally provided for and structured by the church, acting as an agent of the Kingdom.
Could one hope for such a transformative agenda again? To see the activity of the church in such a positive light certainly inspires. In longing for and reaching for an age to come, Paul wrote, ‘May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace, as you trust in him. That you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’. (Romans 15 v.13) In the throes of planting a church overseas, my experience of reading this book is that it has filled out my ecclesiology, and filled me with renewed hope that the wider church can indeed be the preservative, and even the transformative agent in a society that has lost it’s way.
Nick Bensted is a cross cultural missionary, especially among the Karen of SE Asia. He and his wife Josie have begun to plant a church in Chiang Mai, Thailand with 12 other Karen families, including 2 children’s homes. They have also begun work on a school here (currently home based). Nick and Josie have one much loved Anglo-Karen daughter, Isabel, aged 5.
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