Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
You might be surprised that I write this, Tim but Right Wing, Catholic and evangelical, fundamentalist protestant leaders and intellectuals, such as the state of their intellect allows, are right about some things. Western society is at a crux point. Either they make their stand now and experience a dramatic regeneration of support of and fidelity to, institutionalized religion, preserving it's traditionally influential position in dictating the morality and structure of behavior, through Civil as well as canon law or the place of Christianity as a primary force in Western Society will be irretrievably lost.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of support for a strong Christian basis in society, though their numbers are still substantial, are in or soon to be among, our eldest demographic. Many still retain substantial positions of power, wealth and the bully pulpit but the time left for revival of institutionalized religious influence is short.
Pick any recent time frame, 50 years, 20 years, 5 years, 1 year and it can be said that the state, influence and health of religion in society has been in turbulent change and not in a good way for those who favor a strong faith based culture.
If there is to be a reversal, it must be now. The masters of fundamental Christianity are right in saying that the time for the appeasement of liberalizing elements of society must stop. It has not achieved anything but a more rapid deterioration of institutional Christianity. A strong church community, be it Catholic or protestant, cannot coexist within a society where most people claim to be "spiritual" but not strongly attached to a church community.
I think that many would agree that the tipping point is already long past and the church in irreversible decline. There is no benefit for strong church adherents to admit this though for once they do the fight is lost and for many, that fight will continue until the end of life. Given the age of most, that time will not be long in coming.
Do you really think things can be turned around in the next few years? Maybe not but ya gotta try, right?