Unless otherwise indicated, quotations and info below are from Glenn T. Stanton in Citizen magazine, Oct. 2009.
One author is Catholic; the other a "secularist." They conclude that the news for neo-atheists is really dismal. In their words: "In America, the tolerant-to-a-fault Episcopal Church has been in relentless decline," while the conservative Christian denominations are thriving. They say that "people who seek liberation from liberation, do not turn to liberation theology." They tend toward the "serious, biblical kind" of theology.
Stanton says the authors tell how "God is an increasingly big deal in most countries" and they say "the growth of Christianity is nevertheless the most startling religious development" in growing powers like China, So. Africa, as well as most of the Global South.
The book recognizes, in the words of STanton: "when given a chance to do so, increasingly more countries are following the American model of practicing faith and freedom than the European model of secularism and state control. The book states, "The American model of religion--one that is based on choice rather than state fiat--is winning."
From the book: "Today an unsettling worry nags Western liberals: what if secular Europe (and for that matter secular Harvard and secular Manhattan) is the odd one out? They are right to be worried. It now seems that it is the American model [of religion and freedom] that is spreading around the world: religion and modernity go hand in hand,[unlike Islam and modernity,] not just in China but throughout much of Asia, Africa, Arabia and Latin America...The very things that were supposed to destroy religion--democracy and markets, technology and reason--are combining to make it stronger.
Nearly half of Africa identifies as Christian. Islam, too, is growing and they are the oppressors of Christians --except in Communistic Viet Nam where Christians are multiplying daily via "the running pastors" --who run ahead of the local police authorities who beat all converts and pastors when they catch up to them. One typical pastor there was converted at 15 through listening to Far East Broadcasting, a Christian network, via short wave radio. The pastors claim thousands of converts in the mountains. One got up at 4 am to lead a family to faith in Christ before he had to flee from the authorities.
To the neo-atheists' surprise, it's not merely ignorant people converting; it's the educated classes who are converting to Christianity around the globe.
Voice of the Martyrs is doing great work around the world. They have a worker who parachutes literature and short wave radios set to a Christian station into the jungles where rebel soldiers are located. They are helping the Viet Namese converts and the Chinese --by keeping the Christian world apprised so we can pray and send aid.
SAT7 television by the Middle-east to the Middle-east has a wonderful 24-7 tv ministry which is gaining in popularity with its joyous ministry to children and Bible studies for new believers.
So far, the tactic of our philosophical opponents, the atheists, is suppression and brutality as in Communist nations --and denial of free speech to their audiences in America. The tactic of the Muslims, is the same as the atheistic communists -- suppression, terrorism and brutality all over the world.
Even a blind man can see that Christianity is the salvation and light of the world, contrasting greatly with all its philosophical and religious competitors.
The authors of the book conclude, "GOD IS BACK, FOR BETTER!"
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
10 comments:
Actually, communist countries like China and North Korea are run very much like religions with their own sacred texts, dogmas, holy days, miracles, witch hunts, and near constant worship and praise for its government and leaders who are elevated to god-like status.
Also, while communism is atheistic, not all atheists are communists, and many, such as myself, resent being lumped in with them.
Resent all you wish--the fact is that positive western humanistic sentiments are derived from Christian culture. It is Christianity which elevated the individual --though John Dewey(humanistic ed) got the credit for it in education. Humanism, however, goes too far in placing man above God, displacing God.
I know that not all atheists are communists --sorry for any unintended inference to the contrary. Communism, however, IS atheistic and also ruthless and our biggest, perhaps only, example of atheists running nations. Anything that goes well in a Communist nation will be due to moderation by Judeo-Christian (Western) values.
Atheism gives no transcendent reason to not be ruthless --to regard freedom or free will and the right to life. Atheism has no inherent moral guidance and no original thinkers when it comes to morals. It pretty much comes down to "might makes right." Except in nations where Judeo-Christian teachings are fore-runners which probably influenced the way many humanists were raised, so that you DO value life, freedom, etc.
Yes, China and No. Korea are as you describe, but Christians are multiplying in No. Vietnam, China ---and there ARE Christians in No. Korea but persecuted and starving.
To the persecuted, Jesus is the Savior of their souls -which is all they have to look forward to in too many cases where we cannot even reach them to help them. But some who have been persecuted tell of God's little miraculous graces along the way.
Resent all you wish--the fact is that positive western humanistic sentiments are derived from Christian culture. It is Christianity which elevated the individual --though John Dewey(humanistic ed) got the credit for it in education. Humanism, however, goes too far in placing man above God, displacing God.
You have the chronology all wrong, I’m afraid. Humanism has roots in ancient Greece and Rome, long predating Christianity. It is Christianity that has been tempered by humanism and science and the Enlightenment, not the other way around.
Communism, however, IS atheistic and also ruthless and our biggest, perhaps only, example of atheists running nations.
Again, the problem isn’t that these governments are atheistic, it’s that they are too much like religion. Instead of a state religion, they have a religion of the state. While it is true that the only officially atheistic countries are communist, there are many democratic countries that enjoy a higher standard of living and lower crime, abortion, and STD rates than our own even though (or is it because?) a significant portion of their population is secular or non-religious.
Atheism gives no transcendent reason to not be ruthless --to regard freedom or free will and the right to life. Atheism has no inherent moral guidance and no original thinkers when it comes to morals. It pretty much comes down to "might makes right."
Actually, it’s Christianity that has the “might makes right” morality: God is the creator, the ultimate lawgiver and authority by virtue of His limitless power. His judgment is unquestionable, His whims above appeal. Following His instructions is the very definition of goodness. In theory, then, He could order you to sacrifice your children to Him, and you would have to obey, since you are unable, you believe, to distinguish right from wrong without Him, and the entire basis of your morality revolves around carrying out His commands. To resist would be to commit the sin of defiance and disobedience. In this case, I would happily call myself a sinner.
It is true, however, that atheism doesn’t give any transcendent or supernatural reasons to do anything, and, strictly speaking, is merely the rejection of the assertion that gods of any sort exist. The values that stem from this position are humanistic, that is, devoted to the welfare and happiness of humans, not of worshipping and pleasing divine beings. Humanistic morality can reject ruthlessness, as you put it, on the grounds that it promotes fear, unhappiness, and suffering.
---and there ARE Christians in No. Korea but persecuted and starving.
Starvation and persecution are not limited to Christians, of course; most of the population, believers and non-believers alike, live in misery under this monstrous regime.
You have the chronology all wrong, I’m afraid. Humanism has roots in ancient Greece and Rome, long predating Christianity. It is Christianity that has been tempered by humanism and science and the Enlightenment, not the other way around.
You're right that there are roots of humanism in ancient Greece and Rome with their human gods--but not the roots that eliminated slavery. Those come from Christianity. And Gr. and Rm didn't give the vote to everyone either--but did have some democracy.
It is Christianity that says, "In Christ there is no male nor female, slave nor free, Jew nor Greek --all are one in Him." It is Christianity that says "young men and women" (and presumeably rich and poor) will receive the Holy spirit and speak forth the Good News. It is Christianity --not humanism --that is the world's civilizer. After all, the Greeks and Romans, threw the Christians to the lions-- and assassinated their own leader (at least once, famously, in Julius Caesar) --hardly humane treatment.
Again, the problem isn’t that these governments are atheistic, it’s that they are too much like religion. Instead of a state religion, they have a religion of the state. While it is true that the only officially atheistic countries are communist, there are many democratic countries that enjoy a higher standard of living and lower crime, abortion, and STD rates than our own even though (or is it because?) a significant portion of their population is secular or non-religious.
I don't think that any country has a higher standard of living than the USA (even my rich foreign exchange student's family from Austria didn't have the cars, land, size of house as many americans do)--however, there are pockets of US that have lifestyles that perpetuate: dishonesty; crime; poverty and STD's; disregard for cleanliness and education's value; teen parenting, fatherless homes; unsupervised kids; brutality to kids; criminal and promiscuous parents; church absence; drunkenness and drugs.
The countries you are referencing are no doubt those with more culturally homogenous groups of people with the background of western judeo-christian culture and biblical values passed on in the parenting --with beliefs about decent behavior to neighbors, hard work, self-respect and cleanliness, care of property, limiting family size, common sense on staying out of jail,living by reason more than emotions, etc.
On the down side, these countries are probably the ones that use so much birth control that they are not making enough babies to keep pace with the Muslims who are going to take them over in sheer numbers. Not so much common sense, after all.
Actually, it’s Christianity that has the “might makes right” morality: God is the creator, the ultimate lawgiver and authority by virtue of His limitless power. His judgment is unquestionable, His whims above appeal. Following His instructions is the very definition of goodness. In theory, then, He could order you to sacrifice your children to Him, and you would have to obey, since you are unable, you believe, to distinguish right from wrong without Him, and the entire basis of your morality revolves around carrying out His commands. To resist would be to commit the sin of defiance and disobedience. In this case, I would happily call myself a sinner.
God did not allow Abraham to complete the sacrifice of his son; he only tested Abe's obedience. We DO sacrifice our kids when we let them go to war and even go into foreign missions like our airplane pilot friend who operates a mission flight service in Indonesian jungles. God did sacrifice Jesus --knowing it was temporary suffering --and humans actually perpetrated it, one more sin on humanity's record.
BUT EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE HUMANISTIC ATHEISTIC FOLKS DON'T BAT AN EYE OVER THE ABORTION OF 6 MILLION AMERICANS SINCE 1973. Stallin killed his 50 million and Hitler his 11. No. Korea and China have killed millions; China aborts millions. There is no equivalent in BIBLICAL Christian history. Granted the bombs in Japan which stopped Japanese brutality in its tracks --and granted, many non-Christian things happened during the crusades when laity didn't have a personal Biblical faith --but had, instead,an impersonal state religion corrupted by both gov't and church leaders comfortable in their power.
Yes, Calvinist emphasis on everything being done by the Sovereignty of God does justify (for some) ignoring the political process --does suggest that God has His way in all politics regardless of what we do. Not all Christians see God as orchestrating EVERYTHING that happens --nor orchestrating EVERY politician's election. He has given us humans much responsibility and much autonomy, such that we, not HE, are responsible for some outcomes.
It was Machiavelian to say "might makes right." Jesus didn't teach that.
Guess what, AndThenSome, I'm starting to see your writing style (long sentences, e.g.) as just like mine!! minus all my dashes. Are you sure you're not my CA relative??? Writing runs in my family.
Humanistic morality can reject ruthlessness, as you put it, on the grounds that it promotes fear, unhappiness, and suffering
But supposing you decide to be ruthless to prevent your own unhappiness and suffering? That's how the Bolsheviks and Communists justified the violent overthrow of the intelligentsia of Russia. In fact, we think that suffering is one motivation of the chronic wars in the middle east. Nothing else to do; might as well fight our more prosperous neighbors and make them miserable too!
Starvation and persecution are not limited to Christians, of course; most of the population, believers and non-believers alike, live in misery under this monstrous regime.
Yes, indeed.
God did not allow Abraham to complete the sacrifice of his son; he only tested Abe's obedience. We DO sacrifice our kids when we let them go to war and even go into foreign missions like our airplane pilot friend who operates a mission flight service in Indonesian jungles.
But here's the point you failed to address: If you believed Yahweh wanted you to murder someone, say your spouse or children or your entire family, would you do it or not? No conditions, no "God would never ask that of me," just a simple yes or no.
No --BUT He wouldn't ask it of me. I would just know He wasn't the voice asking this of me. I have the Ten C's --they weren't given in Abraham's day but later.
But here's the point you failed to address: If you believed Yahweh wanted you to murder someone, say your spouse or children or your entire family, would you do it or not? No conditions, no "God would never ask that of me," just a simple yes or no.
There lies the problem of looking at scripture as a homogenous moral code instead of a narrative where we see God progressively teaching his people greater moral excellence (not that that's the main point of scripture though).
Of course the answer is no because it is inconsistent with where we are at in the narrative. We aren't in Abraham's situation and to insist we could be hardly is an appeal to consistency with scripture but rather ignores the direction and overall message of scripture.
Oh, and the greeks and romans hardly represent the humanistic pinnacle that the humanistic west has achieved (though that pinnacle really isn't the top), not with their slavery, bloodsports, oppression, homosexual teacher/adolescent-student arrangements and so on. They are part of the picture but they fell pretty short themselves on several accounts. The great movements of human dignity and worth had their most important source in the church, just as they do today. The distortions that we see in religious wars, the inquisition and even in conservative Christian supported capitalism (not as if Christian supported communism is any better) just doesn't detract from this.
It could be said that all that has ever gone wrong with the church folks has not been Christianity--but the lack thereof. True Biblical Christianity and Biblical morality applied is powerfully and wholly positive.
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