Want to save the West? First, follow Christ

Christian civilisation is not the end goal but the byproduct of genuine faith in God. This was one of the many ideas at the Christ and Culture conference in Galway this past weekend at St Mary’s Church in the Claddagh. Overlooking Galway Bay, the setting was the perfect place for an event looking to begin a dialogue around the questions: What does it mean to have a Christian culture? How does culture situate us in our local contexts while uniting us with the universal Church? I was there to report but also to take part in the festivities and fellowship.

The conference began with the hymn ‘Be Thou My Vision,’ an ancient Irish melody which set a reflective tone for the gathering. Around 150 participants entered into an afternoon of discussions on Irish Christian culture, both past and present.

The first session, moderated by Fr Conor McDonough OP, featured an ecumenical panel made up of Paul Vanderklay, a Protestant pastor and YouTube commentator from Sacramento, and Paul Kingsnorth, a writer and former environmentalist who converted to Orthodox Christianity.

Journey

The speakers opened with their personal faith journeys before discussing the state of Christian culture. Ptr Vanderklay emphasised that “humans can’t help but do culture,” citing a scene from Forrest Gump, where Gump unknowingly creates a movement simply by running across the country which dissipates just as quickly as he stops running.

Mr Kingsnorth, whose spiritual path took him through Buddhism and Wicca before his conversion, built on this by saying, “Culture is made in following,” adding that we must ask ourselves, ‘What god are we serving?’ He challenged the idea some have of ‘saving the West’ arguing that Christian civilisation is secondary to Christian mysticism. Culture, he suggested, should emerge from faith, not the other way around.

Stories matter because they are what we hang our hearts on”

He also noted that modern culture is far from Christian, pointing out that the seven deadly sins have been monetised in today’s world. In response, he urged Christians to stand for truth in love, reminding the audience that Jesus’ command to love our enemies presupposes that we will have enemies.

After a tea break and fellowship, the second session focused on Story and History in Ireland. Hosted by Marcas Ó Conghaile Muirthemne (Connolly), the organiser of the event and host of the More Christ podcast, the panel featured historian Fr Conor McDonough OP and storyteller Martin Shaw.

Mr Shaw captured the essence of the discussion with, “Stories matter because they are what we hang our hearts on.” And elsewhere challenged attendees to ask: “Am I sitting at tables that Christ would have kicked over?”

Stories

Fr McDonough highlighted how early Irish Christians didn’t reject pagan mythology but baptised it, drawing out what was true and good. He recounted a story of St Patrick and the King of Leinster, who refused baptism unless the warrior Cú Chulainn appeared before him. Miraculously, Cú Chulainn did appear, performing tricks in his flaming chariot, but only on the condition that the king then be baptised. This, Fr McDonough noted, reflects a Christian approach to culture—not erasing but transforming it.

Speaking with Marcas Connolly about his vision for the event, he said one goal was to bring Fr Conor into conversation with more widely known speakers in what Ptr Vanderklay calls “this little corner of the Internet.” Beyond this, Mr Connolly has larger ambitions—he hopes to establish a centre for ecumenical gatherings and conferences, creating a space for dialogue, faith, and cultural renewal.

On the whole the conference drew a wide variety of participants of all ages and not just from Ireland but also from Scotland, England, and a few Americans. Many of those in attendance had come for the various speakers, from YouTube interviews or by listening to their podcasts, while others had simply seen the flyer at the local church.

The evening session was filled with song and storytelling”

Estuary

In small-group discussions, or “estuary groups” (Ptr Vanderklay’s concept), participants explored themes from the sessions. One woman shared a story of a Catholic priest who lived among the Maasai people, not immediately preaching Christ but first seeking the seeds of truth already present in their culture. This mirrored St Paul’s approach in Athens, where he pointed to the altar of the “Unknown God” as a bridge to the Gospel.

After Vespers with the Poor Clares, the evening session was filled with song and storytelling. The Ní Churraoin Sisters, Étáin & Máire, performed Sean-nós singing with harmonies that soared through the church, accompanied by a shruti box, an Indian drone instrument that provided an enchanting undertone. Along with stories from Martin Shaw, Mr Connolly, and his wife Grace.

If I had one critique, it’s that the event was too short—a sentiment echoed by several attendees. But as one put it, “It’s better to leave wanting more than for it to drag on too long.” Though honestly, I was sad to miss the evening festivities, I met many incredible and interesting individuals and had rich conversations. In the end, Mr Connolly told me to watch out because there would be more events like this and that the conversations begun here in Galway would continue, both online and in future gatherings.

If I had one critique, it’s that the event was too short—a sentiment echoed by several attendees”