“Really shocked,” Hendrie Van Maanen was when he recently saw the painting The Good Samaritan by Vincent van Gogh showed to a group of students: “Nobody knew what Bible story it was. They had no idea.”
According to the theologian, much is lost with the disappearance of this knowledge: “The values we have in Europe are Judeo-Christian values. They are truly unique values, but they are increasingly at risk.”
No other story
Theologian Stefan Paas endorses Van Maanen’s position: “One of the European foundations is that people are given equal opportunities and are valued equally, regardless of skin color, religion or origin. That is not just a fabrication of left-liberal elites, but deeply Judeo-Christian culture.”
Paas doubts whether these values can survive without their Christian roots: “The non-believing philosopher Habermas also states that the universal value of man is rooted in Judeo-Christian ethics.. And according to him, we have no alternative to that yet.”
According to Paas, this concerns everyone, regardless of religious belief: “Do we have any other sources, another story, that is able to bring everything together a bit? I don’t think so.”
Education
Van Maanen therefore advocates paying attention to Bible stories in education: “To reflect on questions such as: Why are we the way we are? Why do we think freedom of expression is important?”
Paas also thinks this is a good idea: “Every Dutch person must know 30 or 40 Bible stories. Sources and stories from which your culture comes, such as the Good Samaritan.”
