dinsdag 8 april 2014

Christianity and western culture



Culture is like a stream flowing throughout human history from generation to generation. It is a stream that is gradually expanding as new inventions, insights and discoveries are added to what is already discovered. Nevertheless soem things are left behinds on the banks of history as things become obsolete, false beliefs are left behind, but unfortunately also sometimes good things and useful knowledge are left behind when they are erroneously considered to be no longer relevant. For example medicinal knowledge of certain herbs and plants has been lost over time which could have saved millions of lives today. Sometimes good things are re-discovered and revived centuries later as was the case with much of Greek thought being re-discovered and appreciated in the renaissance. Sometimes evil things are revived as in the case of anti-semitism, fascist forms of nationalism or anarchism. Theologically, the rediscovery of Biblical Christian beliefs and ideals in Augustinian thought by Luther provided the greatest challenge ever to the medieval Roman Catholic hegemony which had dominated European culture for more than a millennium. The resulting Reformation provided the fertile soil for modern society to be based on Judeo-Christian values and free from ecclesiastical totalitarianism. In today's post-Christian era, at least in ecclesiastical terms, it is essential for society's progress and stability that the moral and ethical values of this heritage are re-appreciated and preserved amidst competing ideologies and other religious beliefs that in human history have failed to produce a society with the same levels of freedom of choice, equality, humanitarian values, social justice and fair legislation.

Geen opmerkingen:

Een reactie posten