As you note, we tried that and the void was filled with "pride" and other obscenities.
They have made it abundantly clear that their views and our views cannot coexist in the same society. Their solution is for us to surrender. It should be clear that our only option is to remove their views from our society.
The thing is, we were warned that this would happen repeatedly throughout the 20th century. If you abandon God you will get devastation. But we thought we could make it work, and now we are paying the price.
That was the Faith's big mistake. Assuming Christianity is just one of many options, perhaps the worst option for the real world. Let anything and anyone else step in and run the shop and it will be just as good, if not better. We're seeing the result of that, as we have for generations, and yet nobody in leadership will step in and do a Boniface and say it's time for the new paganism to go.
(Tom new poster) Dave, I think it started out: "We can't make new Christians by the sword or force of civil law", which was fine; but then it slipped into: "Well, we really can't make arguments for the Faith, because that might hurt feelings" and "We Christians, where we have force of numbers, can't write our principles into reasonable civil laws on divorce, abortion, education or Sunday closings, because that would not be fair". We started out trying to be just, but ended up forced to be "nice". It's chiefly the fault of the cooling of our own sense of Heaven and Hell: that there is no salvation apart from Christ and His Church, that we are obliged to save souls and that, since laws and civil traditions can be teachers, we have to use them as we can to witness to Christ's Kingdom.
There's a fundamental difference between laws against abortion (which is murder, irrespective of one's religion) and laws mandating Sunday closings. Draping the latter cause in the language of faith is a boneheaded move, especially when millions of lives are at stake.
Tom, I think that's about the best, succinct wrap up of what went wrong in the Faith, at least in how we dealt with the world. The irony being that the ones who screamed 'how dare you convert us' has been working around the clock to convert the faithful for generations. Same with imposing values on others. Can't do that we were told. Now look at them. And judging? Always a bad thing when I was growing up, which is why Christianity was so yucky, with all its talk of sin. Now? We judge more than any fundamentalist tent revival preacher ever imagined.
Anon, I'm amazed at how those on the Left can actually suggest clear and obvious evils are up for grabs, but policies and strategies for handling problems are somehow dogma. But then, sometimes Pope Francis gives that impression, too.
It is interesting how often people who espouse Global Warming or LGTBQ issues compare their positions to religious ones. It's one of those things that says more than they probably want to say.
I suppose it would be jejune to point out that 90% of the population shops for Christmas gifts and the PRIDE mess isn't intended to appeal to actual customers.
Sorry, for once our disagreement is due entirely to my own misreading. I read "isn't intended to" as "isn't going to", but on rereading you are making the exact same point I was trying to.
As you note, we tried that and the void was filled with "pride" and other obscenities.
ReplyDeleteThey have made it abundantly clear that their views and our views cannot coexist in the same society. Their solution is for us to surrender. It should be clear that our only option is to remove their views from our society.
The thing is, we were warned that this would happen repeatedly throughout the 20th century. If you abandon God you will get devastation. But we thought we could make it work, and now we are paying the price.
That was the Faith's big mistake. Assuming Christianity is just one of many options, perhaps the worst option for the real world. Let anything and anyone else step in and run the shop and it will be just as good, if not better. We're seeing the result of that, as we have for generations, and yet nobody in leadership will step in and do a Boniface and say it's time for the new paganism to go.
Delete(Tom new poster)
DeleteDave, I think it started out: "We can't make new Christians by the sword or force of civil law", which was fine; but then it slipped into: "Well, we really can't make arguments for the Faith, because that might hurt feelings" and "We Christians, where we have force of numbers, can't write our principles into reasonable civil laws on divorce, abortion, education or Sunday closings, because that would not be fair". We started out trying to be just, but ended up forced to be "nice". It's chiefly the fault of the cooling of our own sense of Heaven and Hell: that there is no salvation apart from Christ and His Church, that we are obliged to save souls and that, since laws and civil traditions can be teachers, we have to use them as we can to witness to Christ's Kingdom.
There's a fundamental difference between laws against abortion (which is murder, irrespective of one's religion) and laws mandating Sunday closings. Draping the latter cause in the language of faith is a boneheaded move, especially when millions of lives are at stake.
DeleteTom, I think that's about the best, succinct wrap up of what went wrong in the Faith, at least in how we dealt with the world. The irony being that the ones who screamed 'how dare you convert us' has been working around the clock to convert the faithful for generations. Same with imposing values on others. Can't do that we were told. Now look at them. And judging? Always a bad thing when I was growing up, which is why Christianity was so yucky, with all its talk of sin. Now? We judge more than any fundamentalist tent revival preacher ever imagined.
DeleteAnon, I'm amazed at how those on the Left can actually suggest clear and obvious evils are up for grabs, but policies and strategies for handling problems are somehow dogma. But then, sometimes Pope Francis gives that impression, too.
DeleteAt least she's being honest about it being her religion.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how often people who espouse Global Warming or LGTBQ issues compare their positions to religious ones. It's one of those things that says more than they probably want to say.
DeleteI suppose it would be jejune to point out that 90% of the population shops for Christmas gifts and the PRIDE mess isn't intended to appeal to actual customers.
ReplyDeleteNow you're getting into facts, which is a bit like waving a crucifix in front of a vampire where things like Pride Month are concerned.
DeleteWhat makes you think that the purpose of "pride" merchandise is to appeal to actual customers?
DeleteSorry, for once our disagreement is due entirely to my own misreading. I read "isn't intended to" as "isn't going to", but on rereading you are making the exact same point I was trying to.
Delete