Note: This article was originally posted on the International Society for Catholic Studies blog. Read it in full here.
“God did not deign to save man by means of a mere syllogism...” (St. John Henry Newman) but rather He became Incarnate and lived among us, thus giving us not only knowledge and commandment, but a way of life.”
[Editor's note: Thought this article speaks specifically of Catholic culture, the main point is applicable to traditional Christian culture in general, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Traditional Protestant cultures].
Any discussion of Catholic Studies, if it does not begin with the question of Catholic culture, necessarily winds up on the topic. But before we go on, we should first ask, “what exactly is culture?” Isn’t being a good Christian simply a matter of doctrine and morals, following certain rules and believing certain things — a mere matter of faith? —ah, “Faith”... “belief”... these very concepts may not mean what we think they mean — but we’ll return to that point later on (so take note and remember that).
So what is culture? Well, the word ‘culture’ comes from the Latin word ‘cultus’, which means worship, or, if you will, ritual action. It is also related to the idea of cultivation, as in agriculture (care and tending of the fields), viticulture (care and tending of the vines), or horticulture (care and tending of gardens), and so on. So perhaps one could say that ‘cultus’ (the root of culture) as systems of ritual and worship conceptually has a sense to it of “care and tending of the gods”, or more generally, “care and tending of divine things”. But this is only an exercise in etymology, however fun and exhilarating that may be... ahem.
Christopher Dawson, that preeminent scholar of history and culture, defines culture as “the more or less stable, if continually developing, practices, norms, institutions, and relationship systems of a people, that endures from generation to generation” (paraphrase). In other words, culture is a relatively stable, if evolving, thing — perhaps one could say it is almost an organic, living thing, with healthy developments as well as maladies or corruptions (here we can apply the principles of St. John Henry Newman on authentic development versus corruption) — that encompasses the whole network or complex system of social practices, institutions, and norms, which which have at their center the care and tending of divine things, or gods — whatever those gods may be. I might add that culture is typically not something that is done over-consciously, that is, with too much self-referential attention, but rather something “done” (or rather, participated in) almost semi-consciously, or naturally — in the same way breathing is done (or participated in) mostly without thought. Just like you’ve been doing right now, up to this moment. Except now you’ve become aware of your breathing because I’ve just pointed it out to you. Perhaps in becoming aware of your breathing you’ve noticed something about it, whether it is fast or slow, shallow or deep, or whether there is a particular scent (or stench) in the air around you. In this same way, we often go about participating in the culture around us without noticing (1) that we’re doing it, nor (2) what the particular qualities of the cultural “doings” are that we’re participating in. That is, just what are the divine things—or gods—that my actions, relationships, and institutions center on?