Revenge of the Pagans

Since most of human history was some version of Paganism it would be logical to conclude it better reflected the minds of humans than the upstart Christianity (and other recent upstarts). A professor recently dug into consequences of this.

Christian comments here and elsewhere have been making the point for years liberal secular people, like many atheists, are flirting with some bad unknown when they work to extract Christianity from government or worse build a secular society. They make a valid point we don't know the future and cannot guarantee some future belief system will be better than Christianity. It could be worse they remind us. 

The link makes the argument that Paganism was about societies, sub societies, clans and extended families, each of whom had their own identity, culture and gods. What we know of ancient history and perhaps prehistory is groups often looked at other groups with disdain. As I understand the argument, he believes humans have some deep need to express rage at others, especially other groups. He calls it cathartic rage.

I remember reading a George Will column years ago that took me aback. This was, of course, back when he was a card carrying Republican Party member. He no longer is.

He wrote it was OK, even healthy, to vote with rage and anger. It was cathartic and fit the model of democratic societies. I took me aback because the author has a Ph.D in Political Science. Should not voting be less about passions and more about issues, I thought at the time?

The link claims Christianity holds at bay this passion to attack the heathens that live across the river. He claims the faith teaches, "Those also are God's people." Christianity teaches that it is we, not those across the river, who were born sinners and are the problem.

The author says liberal people, even if they are not Christians, hold this view that they themselves and all others should be accepting of all other groups and cultures. Rejecting one god will result in many and this is the path back to Paganism he claims. This, he believes, is not the path to a peaceful world.

When it comes to change and the future, I can only conclude neither the professor who wrote the link nor I nor anyone else can claim to know what it will bring.