tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post4807965229399195577..comments2024-03-26T10:03:51.827+13:00Comments on Karl du Fresne: Christianity may be in decline, but its influence is all around usKarl du Fresnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-26995847506117926242020-01-31T18:23:35.171+13:002020-01-31T18:23:35.171+13:00We may be the best schooled generation in history....We may be the best schooled generation in history. We are decidedly not the best educated.<br /><br />Paul CollitsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05851067715919115323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-32622614372951944292020-01-28T00:06:06.544+13:002020-01-28T00:06:06.544+13:00In science, the amazing and provable findings of q...<br />In science, the amazing and provable findings of quantum mechanics make it clear that much of what we assume-- or have assumed-- to be true, are wrong, The truth is often strange and counter-intuitive.<br /><br />Religion, too, has had a similar challenge. We don't have to be confined in religion boxes with labels that deny other religions. Rather we can see the great faiths are chapters in the one book.<br /><br />When we eliminate the false theories ( in science) and distorted interpretations (in religion) we can become more and more convinced that science and religion are in harmony.Vaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13105760893956912855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-36765221779473460082020-01-27T17:22:31.151+13:002020-01-27T17:22:31.151+13:00The decline of Christian faith in our increasingly...The decline of Christian faith in our increasingly secular society has created a spiritual void. There has been a resultant widespread loss of meaning and purpose in life, that no amount of shallow materialism, pursuit of happiness or hedonism can ever fill. Consequently, our society is losing conviction / belief-in-itself and has become weaker and vulnerable. To complicate matters, extreme ideologies rooted in postmodern philosophy (and also Marxism) have found fertile ground in this spiritual void. As a consequence, the progressive left now have confidence to openly subvert our institutions and promote objectionable concepts such as moral relativism and extreme scepticism towards reason and science (except of course climate science). “Wokeness” is the new paganism – the unreasoning, intolerant and shrill behaviour of the woke is evidence that their activism has much in common with fundamentalist religion – in their case a religion which has parted ways with the Ancient Greek/Judeo-Christian/Enlightenment roots of our civilisation. khrusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07205236386273808326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-90952678323046107682020-01-27T15:22:04.178+13:002020-01-27T15:22:04.178+13:00American Sociologist Philip Rieff believed there h...American Sociologist Philip Rieff believed there have been three phases of human progression:<br /><br />1) Pagan World - predicated on a strong sacred order that informed the social order.<br /><br />2) Judeo / Christian world - again social order predicated on a strong sacred order.<br /><br />3) Present world - Severed sacred / social connection.<br /><br />He believes this is the first attempt in history to build a social order that is not predicated on a sacred order. His prediction is an unstable and precarious world. <br /><br />Now you could argue that the world has always been unstable and precarious, and at one level that's true. However, for the first time in 1,000 years we in the West have lost the overarching meta narrative that provided the glue that held us together as a people and a nation.<br /><br />Absent that glue we have descended into the world of identity politics and victimhood fuelled by the neo-marxist narrative of power and powerlessness, oppressed and oppressor. All the more surprising given the testimony of the gulags is still fresh in our collective consciousness, or ought to be if we taught history in our schools.<br /><br />Apostasy is primarily a western phenomena. Christianity is flourishing in Africa, parts of Asia and Latin America. We would do well to remember the admonition Moses gave from the Lord in Deuteronomy chapter 8 starting at verse 13: <br /><br />"And when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."<br /><br />God is faithful, we however not so much.<br /><br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-9812554856033794922020-01-24T19:44:53.383+13:002020-01-24T19:44:53.383+13:00Some of the earliest forms of democracy were pre-c...Some of the earliest forms of democracy were pre-christian, notably the early Roman republic. I suspect also that some people think that present day concepts of morality might be derived from christianity when in fact most religions incorporate some moral code. Scholars believe (as did Einstein) that a moral code can and would develop without religion. While it is clear the most robust democracies in the world appear to be in those countries where christianity is strong (but probably fading) it does not apply everywhere. In parts of Africa, South East Asia and South America where christianity thrives, democracy is actually at risk.rowanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08943578185844445003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-85686352174931057842020-01-24T13:02:07.619+13:002020-01-24T13:02:07.619+13:00"I don't believe in God but I do believe ..."I don't believe in God but I do believe in Church" said one of my old British friends. Such a pity that we've thrown out the baby (principles) with the bath water (pre-science beliefs). Except of course for every public event these days when the stone-age rears its ugly head.Max Ritchiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09700377308425417842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-79531366069246783782020-01-24T08:51:56.396+13:002020-01-24T08:51:56.396+13:00I think many people still maintain elements of rel...I think many people still maintain elements of religious faith but are not attracted to participating in organized religion which in many cases has become so "woke" it no longer offers a credible representation of Christian teachings. Churches need to return to Christianity's first principles.Odysseushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745489060434244478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-30280508317969893212020-01-23T15:03:47.277+13:002020-01-23T15:03:47.277+13:00Yes. 2 things...why can't we have cathedral r...Yes. 2 things...why can't we have cathedral ruins post-quake here in ChCh..I'm thinking specifically of the Catholic basilica, widely-admired in the Sthn hemisphere, since the future of the CofE one is to be restored? Old Bish was in favour of some measure of restoration, new one not so much, and so, very sadly,demolition appears to be on the cards. And..the things that remain with us after childhood Sunday School & family services in the 60s...the hymns, the carols... music first for me, the Lord's Prayer, harvest services & the genial Minister in our Presby church raising his arms at the end of the service, or was it just one arm, and concluding with a...benediction was it? Perhaps I liked that bit because I knew it was all over, or soon. Rituals are quite fun & kids enjoy a bit of rote & adult modeling.Hilary Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240590567749247083noreply@blogger.com