The New Testament both influenced Western political philosophy and it influenced the geo-political landscape of the Western World. Greek political philosophy, which is related to New Testament political philosophy, has dominated the way that Americans perceive their governmental systems. The ways the Western justice systems work were in part based on New Testament thought in the same way that Christian morality influences public opinion of leaders and citizens. Christianity has also undoubtedly influenced the geo-political landscape in the Western world. For example, Christianity quickly became the adopted official religion of the European continent. The teachings of the New Testament became so important as to fuse matters of Church and state in the Holy Roman Empire. Similarly, disputes over New Testament theology and metaphysics led to two of the most decisive incidents in the history of the world: the schism between the eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, and the Protestant Reformation. Also, since the New Testament seduced the leaders of great empires and nation-states, its underlying philosophies and theologies have altered the ways that leaders rule and the ways citizens behave and perceive their governments. The philosophical teachings of the New Testament have been interpreted in differing ways and misinterpreted in countless other ways. However, certain core concepts such as "turning the other cheek," have made their way into the consciousness of most...
Interpretations of the New Testament have also led to actual legislation.
The New Testament has by now pervaded almost all corners of the globe; it has influenced Western and Eastern cultures alike. In Europe the New Testament currently has less impact than it does in the Americas. Most of Central and South America is Catholic: its people and its culture are very much influenced by Christianity. Holidays such as Christmas and Easter are some of the cultural manifestations of the New Testament and Christianity in the Western world. Although these holidays are largely commercial now, they are nevertheless based on religious allegories contained in the New Testament such as the last supper and resurrection of the Christ. Another way that the New Testament has influenced Western culture is through folklore: many of Grimm's fairy tales and the stories made into Disney movies have at their root New Testament themes and imagery.
The New Testament has also influenced the ways people in the Western world view health and healing. Some Christians do not believe in using the tools of modern medicine because of the healing powers of Christ that were discussed in the New Testament. Others feel that the tools of Western medicine themselves demonstrate the healing powers that were exhibited in the Bible. From medicine to folklore to politics and art, the New Testament has defined millennia of culture in the Western world.
