Christianity in the West seems to be the only religion who is ashamed of its Savior. We have got to stop apologizing for being a Christian ESPECIALLY IN OUR OWN COUNTRY whose laws were supposed to provide true justice for all! At the end of the day, we have got to stop being ashamed of Christ and proclaim Him proudly and boldly. No more shame!
I am what is commonly known as an atheist (although I'm with Sam Harris in that I don't think the term should need to exist). I don't, therefore, hold with the religious aspects of the last third of the article. That said, I do recognise the cultural inheritance of the West's past, and agree wholeheartedly that our passive tolerance will be used against us. When, in a thousand years, someone replicates Gibbon's great work on Rome, the writer of 'The Decline and Fall of Western Civilisation' - who will undoubtedly be Muslim (male, of course!) - will conclude it committed suicide.
Thankyou Gus, I'm glad you found it helpful (or at least, two thirds of it!).
Yes, it's interesting that the problem with western decline is visible to people of many different western worldviews (and I would count secularist atheism as one such "western" worldview, as it is a kind of "heresy" of Christian thinking, downstream from the Enlightenment). I hope in time you may be able to see that what you appreciate in the cultural heritage of the west is largely inconceivable without the people who share a Christian worldview who lived, died, built and unbuilt in such a way that would not have been replicable had they been led (culturally and politically) by a generation of nihilists or atheists. If you are the more reasonable kind of atheist (as you seem to be) you may even see that your own reasonableness is not unrelated to the culture of Christian morality baked through the dough of western society.
I've read about what's been happening in the UK for a while now and it's sad because the politicians seem to be so clueless as to what is happening in their country. I fear that it may be too late.
Indeed. They are hopelessly tied to the ideology that enslaves them. They can do no other but keep walking towards the cliff. There is always hope, of course.; but not in the politicians themselves
How do you feel about those promoting multi-culturalism within the church, pointing perhaps to the image at the end of revelation where all tribes & tongues are worshiping the Lord?
Is this a vision to be realised this side of the second coming?
And how does this balance with Babel where the nations were scattered?
Good questions! I think there is much confusion in the church regarding multiculturalism. The vision of people from all tribes and tongues coming together in God's holy nation, with a citizenship in heaven, is glorious and must be emphasised.
However, this is not the same as the ideology of multiculturalism, which is a humanistic and artificial imposition upon God-given diversity borne more from post-colonial guilt than the heart of the Gospel, and often ending up "baptising" cultural expressions which are counteractive to the kingdom of God. Ironically, multiculturalism promotes diversity but actually forces all cultures into a secular conformity very reminiscent of Babel.
I've certainly seen natural divisions and tribal hostilities overcome by the glory of God's Church. This is the glory of Pentecost as a reversal of Babel. We should certainly seek to live in that eschatological reality this side of eternity. It is a very important element of what it means to advance God's kingdom on earth, starting with the Church as it brings Christ's reign to the ends of the earth.
So well put, thanks. At its roots, Islam is a Geo-political organisation which is incompatible with our Common Law and democracy. One must yield.
"The first mistake is a failure to see that law is cultural. ... Unlike the rest of Europe, which has what is called the 'civil law' system with codified laws and a career judiciary, we have a common law system....One of the reasons why contemporary markets thrive in common-law-based nations is because Napoleonic, codified systems entrench bureaucracy. The dead hand of the state is heavier where there is little legal flexibility." (Baroness Helena Kennedy from her book Just Law 2005.)
We no longer need to send missionaries abroad, we have a needy mission field right here, on our doorsteps.
Christianity in the West seems to be the only religion who is ashamed of its Savior. We have got to stop apologizing for being a Christian ESPECIALLY IN OUR OWN COUNTRY whose laws were supposed to provide true justice for all! At the end of the day, we have got to stop being ashamed of Christ and proclaim Him proudly and boldly. No more shame!
Amen! We must be shamelessly Christian and shamelessly Biblical.
I am what is commonly known as an atheist (although I'm with Sam Harris in that I don't think the term should need to exist). I don't, therefore, hold with the religious aspects of the last third of the article. That said, I do recognise the cultural inheritance of the West's past, and agree wholeheartedly that our passive tolerance will be used against us. When, in a thousand years, someone replicates Gibbon's great work on Rome, the writer of 'The Decline and Fall of Western Civilisation' - who will undoubtedly be Muslim (male, of course!) - will conclude it committed suicide.
An excellent piece, many thanks.
Thankyou Gus, I'm glad you found it helpful (or at least, two thirds of it!).
Yes, it's interesting that the problem with western decline is visible to people of many different western worldviews (and I would count secularist atheism as one such "western" worldview, as it is a kind of "heresy" of Christian thinking, downstream from the Enlightenment). I hope in time you may be able to see that what you appreciate in the cultural heritage of the west is largely inconceivable without the people who share a Christian worldview who lived, died, built and unbuilt in such a way that would not have been replicable had they been led (culturally and politically) by a generation of nihilists or atheists. If you are the more reasonable kind of atheist (as you seem to be) you may even see that your own reasonableness is not unrelated to the culture of Christian morality baked through the dough of western society.
I've read about what's been happening in the UK for a while now and it's sad because the politicians seem to be so clueless as to what is happening in their country. I fear that it may be too late.
Indeed. They are hopelessly tied to the ideology that enslaves them. They can do no other but keep walking towards the cliff. There is always hope, of course.; but not in the politicians themselves
An inspiring take on what’s currently happening. One of the best articles on this I’ve read.
Thankyou! Glad you found it helpful.
How do you feel about those promoting multi-culturalism within the church, pointing perhaps to the image at the end of revelation where all tribes & tongues are worshiping the Lord?
Is this a vision to be realised this side of the second coming?
And how does this balance with Babel where the nations were scattered?
Good questions! I think there is much confusion in the church regarding multiculturalism. The vision of people from all tribes and tongues coming together in God's holy nation, with a citizenship in heaven, is glorious and must be emphasised.
However, this is not the same as the ideology of multiculturalism, which is a humanistic and artificial imposition upon God-given diversity borne more from post-colonial guilt than the heart of the Gospel, and often ending up "baptising" cultural expressions which are counteractive to the kingdom of God. Ironically, multiculturalism promotes diversity but actually forces all cultures into a secular conformity very reminiscent of Babel.
I've certainly seen natural divisions and tribal hostilities overcome by the glory of God's Church. This is the glory of Pentecost as a reversal of Babel. We should certainly seek to live in that eschatological reality this side of eternity. It is a very important element of what it means to advance God's kingdom on earth, starting with the Church as it brings Christ's reign to the ends of the earth.
So well put, thanks. At its roots, Islam is a Geo-political organisation which is incompatible with our Common Law and democracy. One must yield.
"The first mistake is a failure to see that law is cultural. ... Unlike the rest of Europe, which has what is called the 'civil law' system with codified laws and a career judiciary, we have a common law system....One of the reasons why contemporary markets thrive in common-law-based nations is because Napoleonic, codified systems entrench bureaucracy. The dead hand of the state is heavier where there is little legal flexibility." (Baroness Helena Kennedy from her book Just Law 2005.)
We no longer need to send missionaries abroad, we have a needy mission field right here, on our doorsteps.
Thanks, and yes, that's a very apt quotation, re. the relationship between culture and law. Statism thrives upon bureaucracy.