Through various lenses, John Rist examines his argument, including humanity's creation in God's image and the historical challenges of incorporating women into this vision; the intricate balance between God's mercy and justice; the possibility of a distinctly Christian aesthetic; the early development of the see of Rome as the foundation of an essential doctrinal unity for Christian culture; and the quest for the Church's proper role in politics. Furthermore, Rist argues that this understanding of Catholic culture is crucial for defending contemporary assumptions about inalienable rights and human dignity, lest we succumb to a value-free, individualistic society or a fundamentalist rejection of human nature and history.