From Confusion to Clarity: Exploring the Return to Timeless Values in a Post-Modern Era

How the search for meaning has led many to revisit Christianity, offering insight into how its values can serve as a foundation for a more meaningful and coherent life.

“Tradition is an experiment that worked.” — Julian Barnes

My lifelong obsession has been God. Raised in a Christian family, I was immersed in the faith from an early age. At 16, I became a catechist, teaching young children the foundations of Christianity. However, as I entered my 20s, something began to pull me away from my faith. Curiosity and a desire to explore led me down a path toward other traditions and spiritual practices. Over a solid period of 12 years , I immersed myself in a variety of New Age and alternative spiritual paths, from Yoga and Tantra to Astrology, Human Design, Family Constellations, healing circles, and mind-altering substances.

During this time, I learned a great deal—about myself, about different belief systems, and about the ecosystems of these various traditions. But despite the immense promises made by these practices, I found that years were passing and I had little to show for it. What struck me most was that many people I encountered in these circles seemed to be perpetually "in process"—constantly moving from one practice, therapy, or healing modality to another, yet never arriving at anything substantial. They became more confused rather than enlightened.

This sense of being adrift eventually led me full circle. At the beginning of this year, I returned to my Christian tradition. It felt as though my journey mirrored the parable of the Prodigal Son, where after wandering through distant lands and exploring various paths, I found the Father waiting for me with open arms, full of grace and forgiveness.

While the New Age promises were seductive, offering individual empowerment and personal transformation, I began to see that without a firm foundation in something greater, many of these pursuits led nowhere.

CULTURE IS SLOWLY TURNING BACK TO FAITH

In recent years, Western culture has seen a surprising resurgence of Christian thought and influence. The rise of the so-called "New Atheism" of the early 2000s, which promised a secular utopia built on science, reason, and the rejection of God, has begun to wane. In its place, we are witnessing a cultural shift where Christian ideas are reemerging—not just in religious communities but also in the public sphere.

Some former atheists are even identifying as "cultural Christians," acknowledging the role that Christian values play in society, even if they do not personally believe in its theological claims. This phenomenon points to a deeper truth: as secularism and post-Christian ideologies struggle to provide meaning, many are rediscovering the roots of Western culture in its Christian heritage.

The New Atheism movement, championed by figures like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, promised liberation from religious belief. Their argument rested on the idea that science and reason could explain all of life’s mysteries and that religion, particularly Christianity, was an outdated and irrational framework.

However, over time, this movement began to show signs of internal division and dogmatism. Dawkins, once a central figure in the movement, became embroiled in controversies —particularly regarding gender issues — that caused fractures within the atheist community.

In an ironic twist, the movement that once championed reason and skepticism began to exhibit a quasi-religious flavor. The New Atheists, who had initially rejected dogma, were themselves criticized for becoming dogmatic. This rigidity, combined with internal conflicts, led to the New Atheist movement losing much of its appeal, particularly among younger people, including young men.

But beyond the internal divisions, many began to see that a world devoid of faith had not led to the promised enlightenment. In fact, some former atheists, such Douglas Murray, now identify as "cultural Christians," acknowledging the profound impact that Christianity has had on Western civilization. Though they may not personally adhere to Christian doctrine, they recognize the enduring value of its moral framework.

THE CHRISTIAN LEGACY IN THE WEST

As historian Tom Holland argues in his book Dominion, to live in the West is to live in a society deeply infused with Christian concepts and assumptions. Whether we are conscious of it or not, Western culture— its laws, ethics, and values — owes much of its character to two millennia of Christian influence. From the idea that laws should be rooted in conscience, to the separation of church and state, to the rejection of polygamy, the fingerprints of Christianity are everywhere in the Western world.

Even the language we use is shaped by Christianity. Words like "religion," "secular," and "atheist," though they have their origins in the classical world, come to us laden with meanings shaped by centuries of Christian thought. As Holland notes, "living in a post-Christian society" does not mean escaping Christian influence; it simply means existing within a culture that has been thoroughly transformed by it.

Holland further argues that Western culture remains firmly anchored in its Christian past. For some, this is a cause for celebration; for others, a source of outrage. But regardless of one’s personal beliefs, it is difficult to deny that Christianity remains one of the most enduring and influential legacies of the ancient world.

As Christianity’s influence receded in the West, secularism and scientism rose to fill the gap. These ideologies promised freedom from religious dogma and the ability to invent one's own values. However, the freedom to "invent oneself" and craft personal belief systems has often led to confusion and disconnection from deeper traditions and objective value.

When institutional religion is removed from society, another belief system inevitably fills the void. This phenomenon is evident today in the rise of alternative "religions" such as environmentalism and various progressive ideologies like wokeism. These movements often adopt religious-like structures, including rituals, moral imperatives, and sacred texts. For instance, many post-modern beliefs are heavily influenced by ideologies rooted in Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto.

Cancel culture, too, has taken on a religious intensity, often resembling modern-day witch hunts. The zeal with which individuals are publicly condemned for perceived transgressions evokes the same kind of moral certainty once found in religious movements.

THE PROBLEM WITH SUBJECTIVE VALUES

Interestingly, the younger generation, often seen as more secular, is showing signs of spiritual curiosity. As Tom Holland suggests, one doesn’t need to believe in the resurrection of Christ to be affected by Christianity’s immense influence. This younger generation, raised in a post-Christian world, is beginning to realize that secularism and the "self-invented" life lack the depth needed to answer life’s most pressing questions.

One of the great appeals of the New Age movement has been the notion of personal freedom — the idea that individuals can invent their own values and live however they choose. The only absolute dogma in New Age is that truth is relativistic – each person has its own reality and subjective experience: what is true for one person may not be true for another. Yet, this approach often leads to emptiness and nihilism. Without an objective value system, we are left to navigate a sea of subjectivity, which can lead to moral confusion and a sense of disconnection from everything.

If everything is subjective, why even bother getting out of bed every day to face the bleakness of a meaningless universe that couldn’t care less about you?

According to thinkers like Thomas Aquinas, human life has a final cause — a purpose inherently directed toward God or Truth.

Objective values — such as Truth, Justice, Beauty, Honesty, Courage, Responsibility —point us toward something greater, guiding us beyond ourselves. We experience this when we are profoundly moved by the beauty of a classical symphony, or when an encounter with an undeniable truth strikes us with the force of an epiphany. It is in these moments of awe and revelation that we glimpse the objective reality of values rooted in the divine perfection of Creation, not in our subjective experiences.

The longing for something beyond ourselves is evident in the resurgence of interest in spirituality and religious thought, especially among those disillusioned by the promises of secularism and New Age ideologies. As we grapple with questions of meaning, morality, and purpose, many are rediscovering that subjective values alone cannot sustain a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Some might argue that secular or New Age values can be just as fulfilling or meaningful as Christian values. However, this article reflects my own experience and observations from a 12-year experiment with various practices and belief systems.

My perspective is deeply influenced by this journey, and at this point, I am passionately awaiting the day when the brilliant Alex O'Connor openly converts to Christianity.??

WHAT DO YOU WORSHIP?

I believe at the heart of this cultural revival is a fundamental question:

What do we worship?

Whether we acknowledge it or not, every person is motivated by something — a set of values or beliefs that drive their actions.

For many in the West, the rejection of institutional religion has led them to worship other things— career success, political ideologies, or personal autonomy. But as these new gods fail to provide lasting meaning for many, people are increasingly turning back to Christianity, recognizing that its teachings provide a coherent and fulfilling answer to life’s biggest questions.

If you assume that is better to be alive than dead, or that killing a baby is something wrong, that assumption points out to the fact that you orient yourself in the world according to a hierarchical structure of values. The very values that guide our understanding of good and bad might be deeply rooted in Christianity.

Do you believe that human life has inherent value? A Roman soldier from another era might challenge your assumption.

As Tom Holland eloquently argues, "to live in the West is to live in a society thoroughly saturated with Christian concepts and assumptions." These concepts run so deep in our framework of reality that we have come to take them for granted.

If this topic interest you and you would like to explorer it deeper I would recommend following Jordan Peterson, Justin Brierley, Tom Holland and Douglas Murray.

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