Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home

by Glenn S. Sunshine

How do we come by our worldviews and philosophies? What impact did Christianity have on the worldviews that are common to Western civilization?

Why You Think the Way You Do traces the development of the worldviews that underpin the Western world. Professor and historian Glenn S. Sunshine demonstrates the decisive impact that the growth of Christianity had in transforming the outlook of pagan Roman culture into one that--based...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310292301
• ISBN13: 9780310292302
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Zondervan Academic
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An easy history of ideas and their outworkings

Probably the best thing about this book is how easy it is to read and understand. It is a history of Western ideas, and how those ideas work out in life. Ideas about human nature, for example, work out in views on not only ethics but economics, politics and the like. This is a history, and reads like it, rather than heavy philosophy, and does an amazingly good job at accurately and simply summarizing often complex and lengthy arguments. The book treats competing worldviews fairly, while being written from a Christian perspective. The unhappy reader that thought it a "wolf in sheeps clothes" (sic) would be advised to read the website page or first sentence of the back cover which says, "How have we come by our worldviews, and what influence did Christianity have on those...." Apparently, there are a number of naked wolves in the information about the book. Reader beware. So, if you hate Christianity, don't even buy the book. If you are new to worldview analysis, and/or like history and are interested in the impact of Christianity on worldviews, buy and read this book. There are also pithy final chapters about today and beyond, which are worth the price of admission. We may be going back to Rome.

Chuck Colson recommends this book.

[...] Sadly, Americans these days are notorious for their ignorance of world history. Ask the average American who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, or what happened in 1066, or where the Battle of the Bulge took place, and you will probably get a look of, "I don't know." Even worse, this lack of historical knowledge goes beyond mere dates, people, and places. It extends to our understanding of the various worldviews which have shaped culture, especially Western culture, for the past 2,000 years. That's why I'm glad to report that a new book by my good friend, history professor Glenn Sunshine, addresses this problem in a highly readable survey of Western worldviews "from Rome to home." The book, entitled Why You Think the Way You Do, is built on the premise that as a society's dominant worldview changes, so too does its culture--for good or ill. The book begins by outlining the dominant worldview of Rome, paganism, which resulted in a "glittering empire" with a "rotten core." We rightly applaud the positive hallmarks of Roman civilization: prosperity, vigorous trade, education, efficient government, and the rule of law. But we also remember the Romans for their widespread use of slave labor; their brutal exercise of authority to suppress revolts; their violent entertainment; the widespread practice of abortion and infanticide; and their decadence, gluttony, and sexual perversions. (Sounds oddly familiar, doesn't it?) Into that dark, violent world came the light of Christianity, which began to change the hearts and minds of diverse groups of people throughout the empire. Instead of devaluing life, Christians promoted a worldview in which every individual is important because he or she is created in God's image. This led Christians in the Roman Empire to oppose the gladiatorial games, to elevate the status of women and girls, to reduce the number of abortions and end the practice of infanticide, and to oppose slavery. While Rome eventually collapsed in the fifth century, Christianity and the Church have survived through the ages. Glenn's book shows us Christianity's impact throughout history, from the Irish Christians who saved Western civilization, to the medieval age, to the attempts of Enlightenment philosophers to undermine faith, to modernity and then postmodernity. Glenn shows how we can see the clash between biblical and anti-biblical worldviews in every age--and then learn something about how we can counter lies with God's truth in our own time and place. It may not matter so much if Christians can't answer questions about Napoleon or the Battle of the Bulge, but we cannot afford to be ignorant about the various worldviews that oppose God's truth. If we are, then we will find it difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill the commands to be "salt" and "light" for our generation as the ancient Christians were for theirs. As we hope, pray, and work for revival, we can find in the book Why You Think the Way You Do a valuable tool in helping us "d

Some light from Glenn Sunshine

WYTTWYD is written with Dr. Sunshine's typical wit and in his usual concise style, a uniquely spare phrasing that carries the intent of the statement clearly and without resorting to academic jargon. He has produced a volume that is both refreshing in providing a clear understanding of the development of worldviews that carried Western civilization from Rome to home, and back again, I might add; and simultaneously a volume that is very disturbing in its implications because of the clarity of the arguments presented. After an introductory chapter defining worldview and the importance of the concept to an understanding of a culture, he begins with a through examination of the religions of the Roman Empire, and how they formed the worldviews of Rome. The resultant picture is haunting familiar as a precursor to the 21st Century. Subsequent chapters examine the gradual change in worldviews as a result of the Christianization of the Empire, the emergence of the Medieval period, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, Modernity and finally the collapse of Modernity into Post-Modernity. The final chapter, Trajectories, clearly lays out the steps necessary for Christianity to repeat the transformation of a society in the 21st and following centuries as it did in the 1st three. A valuable guide as a overview of the problems of our society and the needed solutions. However, Dr. Sunshine does not address the one significant difference between the 1st Century church and the 21st Century. The early church was counter-cultural from the very beginning with a powerful drive to proclaim the availability of the Kingdom of God and to live day by day in that Kingdom; the 12st Century church has assimilated with the culture, has lost its first love and seeks to maintain the status quo. Does a faithful remnant exist to once again bring the Gospel to the Roman Empire? This volume is an excellent and enjoyable read plus a valuable resource for the student who is seeking a source to help put the progression of Western worldviews in perspective.

A Surprise Ending

Here's an amazing book for anyone wondering where the world's headed. For those who have studied the history of western philosophies, it's a concise review. For those with gaps in their knowledge or no knowledge at all, it's an understandable, readable introduction to the points of view that have driven and are driving western societies. For everyone there's a surprise ending--a well-reasoned surprise. By Henry von Wodtke

Incisive and Engaging Whirlwind Tour of Worldview Evolution

Having been enthralled by Dr. Sunshine as a speaker, I rushed to buy this book when it became available and was not disappointed. His wit and incisive scholarship are just as evident in print as in person. The book is an accessible summary of a mountain of historical and philosophical material, peppered with engaging anecdotes and illustrations. The tone is balanced and never triumphalist or strident--Sunshine does not caricature other worldviews nor shy away from critiques of the Christian one (his own), but he also doesn't hesitate to point out straw men erected by others and deliver a body blow or two (with consistent grace and humor even in doing so). An excellent and information-packed resource to introduce anyone to the origins and consequences of a variety of contemporary worldview assumptions--unlike the fish, we can learn about the "water we swim in" and are well-advised to do so. It could be a particularly great gift for high school seniors or incoming college freshmen, giving them a headstart on topics they'll cover in humanities, world history or philosophy survey courses, but written in a style that is much more fun to read than any textbook!