Vishal Mangalwadi establishes the Bible as the sole foundation of modern human civilisation, from which the followers of Christ as well as others gained insight and inspiration to transform the world for good. With his unique narrative style, broad understanding of history, culture and sociology anchored in the Bible, Mangalwadi offers an intellectual feast for discerning readers, students and leaders alike.
Vishal takes us to St. Gallen, Switzerland, to demonstrate how the small town is a miniature model of the transformation brought about by the Bible in the West. The town has a statue of Joachim Van Watt, popularly known as Vadian, holding a Bible-the young people living in that area do not even know what book he is holding. Vadian was a humanist, physician, historian and mayor of the town. The Scripturedriven teachings of Huldrych Zwingli and Martin Luther inspired Vadian to change the enslaving culture that existed in Europe. He became the mayor but kept the Bible as the central authority because he believed that even the rulers should live according to the biblical teachings. This and many such incidents recounted by Mangalwadi throw new light on the historical impact of the Bible and the church.
Going back in Christian history, Mangalwadi dwells on Paul’s conversion, the subsequent vision he received, and his visit to Macedonia. Through this he highlights how Bible is revealed truth to humanity; without which all virtues could not have been attained. By rejecting revelation, postmodernism is furiously cutting the branch on which West has been sitting.
Similarly, it was through revelation-rebuked in a trance-that Peter overcame his prejudice against Gentiles. He had to learn to treat all human beings as equal, created in the image of God. Equality thus is a concept not created by human philosophies but a truth revealed by God.
When revelation is rejected, ultimately we are left with the idea that the world is real and not an illusion or maya. The Buddhist and Hindu sages could not produce science, as for them world is not real. When humans started thinking that chemical reaction in brain, and not revelation, could lead to truth; it ended in disaster. West by rejecting revelation has lost its soul, logic and language.
In an important chapter, Mangalwadi also shows how Bible teaches tolerance and freedom of conscience, though early church burnt those who protested by burning them. The martyrs brought tolerance and healed the European disease of intolerance. The atheists and agnostics (postmodernists) want that tolerance for themselves but do not want to give it for those who disagree with them.
Bible’s impact on modern politics is explained in one important chapter. When the World War II ended, the US refused to become Empire but helped nations to become Sovereign nations. USSR was an empire but its ideology was defeated by a Nation, US. Empire in God’s perspective is tyranny. Vishal provides biblical insights for four main visions of political organisations: 1) Empire, 2) Nations, 3) Great Nations and 4) a supernatural kingdom of God that heals and blesses nations.
Another important part of the book is Vishal’s explanation of Ten Commandments as economics based on relationship gives newer perspective. The important question is: Whom do you love and serve: Money or God and neighbour? George Washington used biblical metaphor: ‘sitting under one’s own fig and vine’ (1 Kngs 4:25; Micah 4:4. Zech 3:10) as an economic ideal. Communism offered the opposite: collectivised agriculture, industry, business and services. Vishal brings to focus Katherine, wife of Martin Luther who pioneered entrepreneurship and was greatly successful in feeding her family and several students who stayed with them. She modelled Protestant work ethic and the spirit of capitalism. Bible mandates each person to create, not covet or steal. Martin Luther catechism was taught to all. In that, he writes, a pastor is a thief, if he does not use his money to buy books to study and feed good knowledge to his sheep. A skilled mechanic steals if he does not do his best to neighbour’s or client’s car.
Buddhist idea of silence as ultimate reality destroyed Indian intellectual ability. Scientists and philosophers have opposite ideas about language. When translation of bible was done in vernacular languages, cultures were transformed. Myths were replaced by truths. Without revealed word, meaning for many words is impossible. In other words, theology and not philosophy developed modern languages. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress influenced a new genre of writing. In India, the new genre of writing novels came by the impact of Christian education and biblical worldview in many Indian languages including Bengali, Marathi and Tamil.
With regard to Bible’s impact on modern journalism we read about William Thomas Stead {1849-1912) who was a fearless journalist like Old Testament prophets. He was a champion of poor and exposed how teenage virgins were exploited sexually. His campaign ended young virgins being induced into prostitution and age of consent was raised from thirteen to sixteen. Stead saw his calling as newspaper editor, and newspaper as his pulpit to preach to his readers and platform from which he could attack devil. Martin Luther positioned truth above church and state and called for freedom of press. In the freedom of press index, top countries are that from Protestant reformation. Journalists and media professionals are being killed for standing for truth. However, without ‘Christian plumb line’ media has been trivialised for profit and corrupted by secularisation. Unfortunately, secular world introduced ‘neutrality’ instead of ‘fairness’ that has led to snare and delusion.
It is indeed a fabulous book; thought provoking, inspiring, well researched, awesome interpretation of global history, culture, language from biblical perspective. A must read for all those who are leaders in church, community, civil society, market place and nation. It is a great book from a contemporary prophet of God. Looking forward for his subsequent volumes.
Vishal Mangalwadi establishes the Bible as the sole foundation of modern human civilisation, from which the followers of Christ as well as others gained insight and inspiration to transform the world for good. With his unique narrative style, broad understanding of history, culture and sociology anchored in the Bible, Mangalwadi offers an intellectual feast for discerning readers, students and leaders alike.
Vishal takes us to St. Gallen, Switzerland, to demonstrate how the small town is a miniature model of the transformation brought about by the Bible in the West. The town has a statue of Joachim Van Watt, popularly known as Vadian, holding a Bible-the young people living in that area do not even know what book he is holding. Vadian was a humanist, physician, historian and mayor of the town. The Scripturedriven teachings of Huldrych Zwingli and Martin Luther inspired Vadian to change the enslaving culture that existed in Europe. He became the mayor but kept the Bible as the central authority because he believed that even the rulers should live according to the biblical teachings. This and many such incidents recounted by Mangalwadi throw new light on the historical impact of the Bible and the church.
Going back in Christian history, Mangalwadi dwells on Paul’s conversion, the subsequent vision he received, and his visit to Macedonia. Through this he highlights how Bible is revealed truth to humanity; without which all virtues could not have been attained. By rejecting revelation, postmodernism is furiously cutting the branch on which West has been sitting.
Similarly, it was through revelation-rebuked in a trance-that Peter overcame his prejudice against Gentiles. He had to learn to treat all human beings as equal, created in the image of God. Equality thus is a concept not created by human philosophies but a truth revealed by God.
When revelation is rejected, ultimately we are left with the idea that the world is real and not an illusion or maya. The Buddhist and Hindu sages could not produce science, as for them world is not real. When humans started thinking that chemical reaction in brain, and not revelation, could lead to truth; it ended in disaster. West by rejecting revelation has lost its soul, logic and language.
In an important chapter, Mangalwadi also shows how Bible teaches tolerance and freedom of conscience, though early church burnt those who protested by burning them. The martyrs brought tolerance and healed the European disease of intolerance. The atheists and agnostics (postmodernists) want that tolerance for themselves but do not want to give it for those who disagree with them.
Bible’s impact on modern politics is explained in one important chapter. When the World War II ended, the US refused to become Empire but helped nations to become Sovereign nations. USSR was an empire but its ideology was defeated by a Nation, US. Empire in God’s perspective is tyranny. Vishal provides biblical insights for four main visions of political organisations: 1) Empire, 2) Nations, 3) Great Nations and 4) a supernatural kingdom of God that heals and blesses nations.
Another important part of the book is Vishal’s explanation of Ten Commandments as economics based on relationship gives newer perspective. The important question is: Whom do you love and serve: Money or God and neighbour? George Washington used biblical metaphor: ‘sitting under one’s own fig and vine’ (1 Kngs 4:25; Micah 4:4. Zech 3:10) as an economic ideal. Communism offered the opposite: collectivised agriculture, industry, business and services. Vishal brings to focus Katherine, wife of Martin Luther who pioneered entrepreneurship and was greatly successful in feeding her family and several students who stayed with them. She modelled Protestant work ethic and the spirit of capitalism. Bible mandates each person to create, not covet or steal. Martin Luther catechism was taught to all. In that, he writes, a pastor is a thief, if he does not use his money to buy books to study and feed good knowledge to his sheep. A skilled mechanic steals if he does not do his best to neighbour’s or client’s car.
Buddhist idea of silence as ultimate reality destroyed Indian intellectual ability. Scientists and philosophers have opposite ideas about language. When translation of bible was done in vernacular languages, cultures were transformed. Myths were replaced by truths. Without revealed word, meaning for many words is impossible. In other words, theology and not philosophy developed modern languages. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress influenced a new genre of writing. In India, the new genre of writing novels came by the impact of Christian education and biblical worldview in many Indian languages including Bengali, Marathi and Tamil.
With regard to Bible’s impact on modern journalism we read about William Thomas Stead {1849-1912) who was a fearless journalist like Old Testament prophets. He was a champion of poor and exposed how teenage virgins were exploited sexually. His campaign ended young virgins being induced into prostitution and age of consent was raised from thirteen to sixteen. Stead saw his calling as newspaper editor, and newspaper as his pulpit to preach to his readers and platform from which he could attack devil. Martin Luther positioned truth above church and state and called for freedom of press. In the freedom of press index, top countries are that from Protestant reformation. Journalists and media professionals are being killed for standing for truth. However, without ‘Christian plumb line’ media has been trivialised for profit and corrupted by secularisation. Unfortunately, secular world introduced ‘neutrality’ instead of ‘fairness’ that has led to snare and delusion.
It is indeed a fabulous book; thought provoking, inspiring, well researched, awesome interpretation of global history, culture, language from biblical perspective. A must read for all those who are leaders in church, community, civil society, market place and nation. It is a great book from a contemporary prophet of God. Looking forward for his subsequent volumes.
