The Faith of Tom Holland

British author and historian Tom Holland

Back in September, British writer Tom Holland wrote an article about how he changed his mind on Christianity. He specifically stated that his morality was not Greek or Roman but Christian. Holland is an atheist and has been for most of his life.

His article can be found here:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/religion/2016/09/tom-holland-why-i-was-wrong-about-christianity

The last sentence of the article reads: “In my morals and ethics, I have learned to accept that I am not Greek or Roman at all, but thoroughly and proudly Christian.”

Tom Holland is known for writing on ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, the Romans and the Persians. He became a controversial figure in 2012 when he published a book called In the Shadow of the Sword, which gives a revisionist view of the origins of Islam. The British television company Channel 4 filmed a documentary starring Holland, which was based off of his book. The documentary was called Islam: The Untold Story. Here is a link to the documentary:

The view of Holland is that Islam did not give birth to the Arab Empire but that the Arab Empire gave birth to Islam. According to Holland, God and Empire go hand in hand. After all, the Roman Empire was Christian, the Persian Empire was Zoroastrian, but what about the Arab Empire?

Toward the end of the documentary, Holland is at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox monastery in Egypt. The monastery goes back to the 6^th Century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Justinian. At 1:06:35, Holland says the following.

This is supposed to be Mount Sinai, where Moses saw the burning bush, where God gave him the Ten Commandments. But there’s no historical evidence for any of this; Christian monastery, Roman fortifications, the old partnership, God and Empire. Between them, they turned this place into Sinai. In my heart, I want to believe it, but my head won’t let me.

Holland wanted to believe that the Christian faith was true. He wanted to believe that he was standing where the ancient Israelites received the Ten Commandments but just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

On October 8, 2016 Tom Holland appeared on the Unbelievable radio program hosted by Justin Brierley. Early Church historian Larry Hurtado was on the program as well. Holland discussed why his Moral Universe was Christian. He talked about the reforms of Pope Gregory VII as well as the idea of a crucified God. He expressed his love and admiration for the Christian faith in regard to many other issues.

The show can be found here:

https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-Why-I-changed-my-mind-about-Christian-history-Tom-Holland-Larry-Hurtado

Toward the end of the podcast, Justin got straight to the point and asked if this recognition of Christian morality transferred to an affirmation of the Christian faith. He then basically gave a Carl Sagan answer as to why he was not a believer. Basically we’re such an insignificant part of the universe that it’s hard to believe that we’re special. However, after stating why he doubts, he ended on this note:

When I have experience of the sublime, when I have a sense of something beyond me, that is Christian and that there is nothing that I find more moving really than the narrative of the Passion and the Resurrection and perhaps that is still a faint guttering flame of faith that is there to be tended and may become a more fuller flame in due course.

In some ways, Tom Holland is where he was in 2012. His heart wants to believe in it but his head won’t let him. At the same time, nothing moves him more than the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has heavy doubts but he still leaves the door open for the possibility of conversion. He’s certainly closer than he was in 2012.

In the end, only God can convert someone. Only He can make Holland realize the truth of the Christian faith. Only He can take that faint flame of faith and turn it into a roaring bonfire.  Only He can bring Tom Holland home.