The above discussion raises the question as to whether cultural experience is enough to humanise us. Certainly, there is much truth in this idea. We may learn about character from Jane Austin, of deeper faith dilemmas from Dostoyevsky and relational agonies of contemporary individuals from John Updike. I could list poets and composers, painters and sculptors. It is the aim of the humanities to make us human and to reflect on the human condition.
However, there is a contemporary example in which one of the most highly cultured nations in Europe was led astray by militarism and nationalism to cause the slaughter of millions in two world wars. I talk of Germany. The young Karl Barth was shocked to hear that his German professors of theology sided with the Kaiser. Later, in the WWII it was apparent that the Germany people easy fell victims to the Nazi emphasis on blood, soil and race. One must ask the question about the state of the Church in Germany that allowed such atrocities. Barth took it as evidence that the church had betrayed the gospel and so much of German Christianity was ineffectual in the face of resurgent nationalism.
There is such a thing as culture-Christianity in which the gospel is subverted even if that culture is the finest. I am thinking here of nineteenth century romanticism in which fine feeling was mistaken for religious experience. Alas, fine feeling does not stand up to a murderous regime. Theological research in the twentieth century revealed the gospels to be political and to demand political decision from believers. The old world of the separation of religion and politics was challenged. The kingdom of heaven/God was understood to be an earthly reality brought about by the transformation, the humanisation of individuals and societies, not a reward in heaven for those who have led a good life.
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We could similarly think about the kind of Christianity held by the American religious right who voted for Trump. In this case there is no high culture involved, indeed, the culture-Christianity of America is banal in the extreme.
So, the answer to the question about whether culture could be enough to humanise us must be answered in the negative. Although cultural, Christianity has at its core a hard, seemingly unearthly reality. The cross of Christ is not an opportunity for sentimental feelings but is God's judgment of the world. It is in face of this judgment that all culture stands naked.
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