Book Review: The Christian Mind, Harry Blamires, Seabury, 1963

Review:

This week in my research in another area, I was reminded of the book title The Christian Mind. Harry Blamires’ book was written in 1963 and a number of the issues he raised as examples in that book are hopelessly out of date. So I don’t recommend purchasing this book, but there are some principles which do need contemporary attention. He contends that there is no longer a Christian mind because of the all-encompasing power of secularism. That’s contemporary, indeed. He says the secularists “reject the religious view of life … which sets all earthly issues within the context of the eternal, the view which relates all human problems – social, political, cultural – to the doctrinal foundations of our Christian Faith, the view which sees all things here in terms of Christ’s supremacy and earth transistoriness in terms of Heaven and Hell” (Harry Blamires, The Christian Mind, Seabury, 1963, p.3-4). An American friend, who has worked overseas for 30+ years, made the comment in her visit to the States this week: “I have never seen such a level of conflict in Christian families over politics that exists currently in the United States.” That’s an astute observation. Blamires would say that’s because Christians are no longer thinking spiritually. He describes 6 areas of the Christian mind that could profitably be brought back into contemporary Christian discipleship and political dialogues.

1.      “Its supernatural orientation- the Christian mind cultivates the eternal perspective… i.e., the Christian view of the human situation… It sees human life and human history held in the hands of God… It sees the universe sustained by his power and his love, … time as contained within eternity” (p.63).

2.      “Its awareness of the power and spread of evil.”

3.      “The concept of truth… Secularism asserts the opinionated self as the only judge of truth. Christianity imposes the given divine revelation as the final touch-down of truth… which is supernaturally grounded, objective, based on revelation, discovered by inquiry and authoritative” (pp100-101).

4.      “Its acceptance of authority. In secularism, authority is something whose grip you grow out off, something you break away from, something you view with suspicion, something you combine against in order to limit its operation” (p. 131).

5.      “The Christian conception of the human person is a high one, the sense of the sacredness of human personality being deeply grounded in revealed theological truth [human’s made in the image of God]” (p. 147).

6.      “Its sacramental cast. The Christian mind thinks sacramentally. It shows life’s positive richnesses as derivative from the supernatural” (p.163).

Areas to consider so we think and act more “Christianly” within the Christian community, the political arena, and the world in general.

2 Stars M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D. 06/13/18