Msgr. Pope on the Rise and Fall of Civilizations

"In last week's post we examined the stages or persecution. Given the serious damage and debasement we see in our culture, we do well to ponder a more sociological examination of how cultures and civilizations go through cycles. Over time, many civilizations and cultures have risen and then fallen. We who live in painful times like these do well to recall these truths. Cultures and civilizations come and go; only the Church (though often in need of reform) and true biblical culture remain. An old song says, 'Only what you do for Christ will last.' Yes, all else passes; the Church is like an ark in the passing waters of this world and in the floodwaters of times like these.

"For those of us who love our country and our culture, the pain is real. By God's grace, many fair flowers have come from Western culture as it grew over the past millennium. Whatever its imperfections (and there were many), great beauty, civilization, and progress emerged at the crossroads of faith and human giftedness. But now it appears that we are at the end of an era. We are in a tailspin we don't we seem to be able to pull ourselves out of.. . ."

In a recent commentary based on the writings of Scottish philosopher Alexander Tyler of the University of Edinburg, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the stages of the rise and fall of the world's great civilizations (including the transition from abundance to complacency, from complacency to apathy, and from apathy to dependence) .

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: How Civilizations Rise and Fall in Eight Stages (25 AUG 22)