Unstoppable Forces Brought Christianity, Forces for Leaving Are Unstoppable


To me, studying the history and social forces that brought Christianity to the forefront is fascinating. No one will ever understand them all. Now, a member of the Catholic clergy is pointing out that the forces bringing about an exodus from both Catholicism and Christianity in general are too complex for simple remedies. There is no shortage of remedies tossed out there.

The link uses the writing of St. Neuman, a Catholic philosopher of the 1830's. Neuman did not see conversion to the faith as something jumped into from somewhere else. He saw people as being in communities and having experiences that made a package of political their political views and their interpretation of reality. These all developed slowly over time, Neuman believed.

This is what I think as well. Many personal and societal variables impress reality on us. It is not the presence of an actual God for Christians, but the impression of a God. Belief of any sort, Neuman thought, was a complex matter.

The link author, a Catholic, points out that the remedies for reversing the decline in Christianity are always quite simple. It is spruce up the building, spend more on youth programs, be more demanding of believers, be less demanding, serve better coffee, etc. "These suggestions usually say little except the pet interests of the one suggesting..."

While those called the prophets in the Bible are credited with various events, I'm not aware they predicted a decline of the faith. This, even though a decline of Christianity, as well as every other great religion, would follow a well worn path of human history. Efforts were made to stop the decline of paganism. They were mostly unsuccessful.

So far, it appears efforts to stop the decline of Christianity are just as unsuccessful.

P.S. I copied the proposed outline of Bart Ehrman's upcoming book that will use lots of illustrations. It is just for anyone who is interested in how such a book comes together.


Comments

  1. little helperJanuary 28, 2020 at 6:19 AM

    Completely understandable. The near absence of "The Proper Distinction Of Law and Gospel" is most important, along with a plethora of distractions and toys, two job households, the mobile society, degrading of the nuclear family, and yes, prosperity or the quest of it for many. scurry scurry.

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