Silence: A
Christian History
By
Diarmaid MacCulloch
Reviewed by
Geoffrey
W. Sutton
I come from a noisy church tradition—a place where
young Christians like their music loud and pulsating. The notion of silence in
Christianity struck me as odd when I saw it on the new books’ shelf of my local
library. But as I flipped through the Table of Contents and checked a few
pages, many thoughts came to mind. Perhaps like historians, psychologists and counsellors
can learn much from silence. Silence helps interpret noise.
Diarmaid
MacCulloch work is scholarly, intriguing, insightful, and masterfully written.
MacCulloch is Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University and
an award-winning author. He has also produced a multi-episode video series on
the history of Christianity (this is also worth viewing) as well as a New York
Times Best Seller on the same subject.
MacCulloch organized Silence into
historical eras creating nine chapters to describe four epochs. The first
chapter of The Bible era offers a look at the contrasts between silence and
celebration in the Hebrew Bible. When God speaks, the Israelites cry and
celebrate with a loud noise. And there are times when people are hushed before
the Lord. Chapter two reveals the back and forth of noise and silence. Jesus
ends a period of silence. He gives a voice to the poor. And at times Jesus
retreats into silence. Paul deals with noisy, and sometimes cantankerous,
Christians.
The Triumph of Monastic Silence embraces a thousand
years. MacCulloch describes the rise of asceticism, the formation of the first
monastic orders, and the silence of those who did not join the early martyrs. We
learn about both Eastern and Western church traditions.
We approach the modern era in Part Three, Silence
through Three Reformations. In two chapters we learn of the context for reform
in a sweeping review of icons and mystical notions through 1500. As readers
will know, the noise of the Protestant Reformation dominates church history in
the era 1500 through 1700. Amidst the loud calls for reform are those promoting
tolerance and peace. And in this context, Quakers quietly meet.
Finally, Tridentine Catholics rise to defend their
traditions. Part Four, Reaching behind Noise in Christian History,
is different from the historical narrative. And it is this section I consider
most relevant to those of us interested in the Psychology of Religion because
here we encounter the Christian context for silences that continue to rock the
lives of contemporary Christians. We learn about gay churchmen under cloaks of silence
yet networked by efficient undercover communications. As clinicians are aware, silence
is a contemporary reality for many sexual minorities. Women are silent too. Of
course, they are present. But as is true today and throughout Christian
history, the voices of women are largely missing. MacCulloch notes the
exceptions. And wonders what the future will hold. Shameful themes are not
ignored. Penetrating the silence are the voices of abused children and slaves.
And why was the church so silent during the Holocaust?
As MacCulloch recounts the stories I am left to
wonder: Who heard the voices of the victims? Where was the voice of the church?
In the final chapter, MacCulloch looks at the contemporary church and offers a
more personal and optimistic view. He shows us how to embrace silence in
worship and respect as when we observe a moment of silence when recalling a
deceased friend. He reminds us of the joy that comes from varieties of music
and does not seek to silence the enthusiastic voices of Pentecostal Christianity.
I found the author’s vibrant prose and command of Christian history helpful in
navigating such a wide expanse of noise and silence in the biblical and church
eras. However, despite valuing the historical context, I found it difficult to decide
how the selected examples from the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and church
history linked together to provide a framework for the arguably more
disconcerting silences of the modern era.
MacCulloch artfully juxtaposes silence and noise.
But silence does not easily lend itself to interpretation. Still, the negative contrast
in the biblical texts and church history offer an ample basis for thinking
about the importance of silence and voices in worship, moral matters, and the
consulting room. Silence almost begs for interpretation and is often
interrupted by cacophony at church and in relationships. Silence: A
Christian History quietly calls for social justice—a time for silence and a
time to speak. One of his images stands out against the rest. Loud voices of
strident Christians appear like a child’s sand castles on a beach—soon to
disappear when the inexorable tide washes ashore.
MacCulloch, D. (2013). Silence: A Christian
History. New York: Viking.
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