rjvaughn@ihu1m.UUCP (Russell Spence) (12/09/84)
All you Taoists, Zen Druids, Zen Baptists, Newagers, and others take heart! I read something today in today's Chicago Tribune that makes me think that there may be hope yet, nameley, that the Christianoids are on the run! I think that they are on the declining end, and if we all continue to educate the world about the evils of Christianity, we just may be able to make this a better place to live. The article in question was in the religion section of Saturday, Dec, 8's Chicago Tribune. It was written by Bruce Buursma and concerns a book titled "Crumbling Foundations" by Rev. Donald Bloesch. [The book is published by Zondervan Publishing House]. Here are some excerpts from the article - America is no longer the beau- tiful, the good and the true-blue, sayeth many preachers and other religious commentators who inveigh against such enemies as secular humanism, encroaching commu- nism, spreading pornography and commercial television drivel. They speak of a titanic clash be- tween culture and Christian values in the United States, a battle that traditional religionists already ap- pear to have lost in Western Eu- rope. Their counterparts here, the preachers suggest, are panting mightily, pinned against the ropes. But before the knock-out punch is administered, here comes a re- spected Midwestern evangelical scholar to contend that the decay of American Christianity, far from being a cause for hand-wringing, may lead instead to a purification of the true faith. "No matter what nation Chris- tians find themselves in, whether democratic, communist or socialist, there will be increasing conflicts between them and the demands of the state," says Rev. Donald Bloesch,... "We are living in a world becoming increasingly pagan," he says. "The church can expect to see martyrs and confessors again, both on this side of the Iron Curtain and behind it. "Yet this could be a time of celebration, because the impending collapse of Western civilization does not signify the end of God's promises. With the crumbling of foundations, I can see that God is preparing something new." ... "The main enemy today is not the humanistic heritage of the Renais- sance and Enlightenment," He says, "but rather the new demons of na- tionalism, racism, nature-mys- ticism and nihilism." ... "This is the political mandate of the church: To bring the law of God to bear on abortion, the nuclear arms race, the breakdown of the family and the growing disparity between the rich and the poor." Christianity is a religion for the weak. The fact that they are running scared, seems to me to be an indication that something strong has come onto the stage. Namely, the enemies of Christianity, which Rev. Bloesch says includes paganism and nature-mysticism. I find this a very hopeful statement. Perhaps Christianity will soon find itself in the place it belongs, a second-rate cult whose members are reviled and persecuted by the main of society. Don't you find it strange, that the saints of Christianity have always been those who do nothing but stir up trouble and attack society's values? That their teachings mainly appealed to the weak, sick, and the slaves of society? What does that make us if we embrace these teachings? "If one wants to be, in one's own person, 'chosen of God' - or a 'temple of God', or a 'judge of angels' - then every OTHER principle of selection, for example on the basis of integrity, intellect, manliness and pride, beauty and liberality of heart, is simply 'world' - EVIL AS SUCH.... Moral: every word in the mouth of the 'first Christian' is a lie, every act he performs an instinctive falsehood - all his values, all his aims are harmful, but WHOMEVER he hates, WHATEVER he hates, HAS VALUE.... The Christian, the priestly Christian especially, is a CRITERION OF VALUES." [emphasis in the original] - Friedrich Nietzsche Chapter 46 The Anti-Christ "Submitted for your approval..." -- replies to: Russell Spence ihnp4!ihlpm!russ AT&T Technologies Naperville, IL
garys@bunker.UUCP (Gary M. Samuelson) (12/12/84)
> Christianity is a religion for the weak. The fact that they are running > scared... Really? I hadn't noticed. > ...seems to me to be an indication that something strong has come > onto the stage. Namely, the enemies of Christianity, which Rev. Bloesch > says includes paganism and nature-mysticism. > I find this a very hopeful > statement. Perhaps Christianity will soon find itself in the place it > belongs, a second-rate cult whose members are reviled and persecuted by > the main of society. Here is someone honest enough to admit that he favors persecution of Christians. > Don't you find it strange, that the saints of > Christianity have always been those who do nothing but stir up trouble > and attack society's values? Which "saints of Christianity" do you have in mind? How did or do they stir up trouble? Often, just by asserting that there is such a thing as right and wrong. > That their teachings mainly appealed to > the weak, sick, and the slaves of society? I suppose, in the same way that medicine appeals to the physically sick, Christianity can be said to appeal to the spiritually sick. > What does that make us if we > embrace these teachings? I can't resist giving the obvious answer: Christianity appeals to the weak, sick, and slaves of society because it promises to make them strong, well, and free. And there are many who say that it does so. > "If one wants to be, in one's own person, 'chosen of God' - or a 'temple > of God', or a 'judge of angels' - then every OTHER principle of selection, > for example on the basis of integrity, intellect, manliness and pride, > beauty and liberality of heart, is simply 'world' - EVIL AS SUCH.... > Moral: every word in the mouth of the 'first Christian' is a lie, every > act he performs an instinctive falsehood - all his values, all his aims > are harmful, but WHOMEVER he hates, WHATEVER he hates, HAS VALUE.... > The Christian, the priestly Christian especially, is a CRITERION OF VALUES." > [emphasis in the original] > > - Friedrich Nietzsche > Chapter 46 > The Anti-Christ > > "Submitted for your approval..." > -- Approval withheld. Why do you quote Nietzsche as if his work is definitive (i.e., defines Christianity) ? I think Christianity (the biblical kind) favors things like integrity, intellect, beauty, and liberality of heart (references on request). I haven't a clue what "manliness" means in this context -- should women also strive for "manliness" ? "Pride" also has different meanings -- which one do you think Nietzsche means? If he means the opposite of humility, then Christianity would disapprove of it; if he means self-respect, that is another question. > replies to: Russell Spence > ihnp4!ihlpm!russ > AT&T Technologies > Naperville, IL Gary Samuelson