Pilgrims and Progress

This talk reviews the power and consequences of the Enlightenment on Western thought and particularly on Christianity. While many have analysed the impact of the Enlightenment’s epistemological and ontological legacy, this talk examines the Enlightenment concept of "progress" and how it more broadly has influenced Western culture and the Western church. The Enlightenment's approach to progress advocated efficiency and convenience which are measured quantitatively, obscuring important aspects of reality. This idea of progress is analysed and evaluated.