All the great imagery of our religions was formed in eras when everyone believed without question in idealism – that mind came before matter, that matter was precipitated from mind, that matter was made for mind, that the material universe is made for humankind, that human spirits descended into this material universe, that this material universe, controlled by the great comic mind, nurtures us, that one day matter will dissolve and we will return to to great cosmic mind.
These images couldn't be more familiar, but maybe we tend not to appreciate them because we come to them with a non-idealist – indeed materialistic mind-set.
This all religions have near their centre the image of mother nurturing the child. This the clearest possible image of the 'anthropic' universe – the material universe made to nurture us.
All religions have the image of the cross. This is the image of matter, having been emanated from mind and finally become fixed in the solid, foursquare we know today.
Jesus Christ, then is pinned to the Cross so that he can begin the process of spiritualizing it, dematerializing it. In Christian idealism this event is right at the centre of history.
These are simple things we tend to miss, but obvious when you think abut it.
I think Christianity has to re-embrace idealism, by the way – or it is nowhere. Modern liberal theologians are the nicest, most well-meaning people in the world, but if you compromise with materialistic philosophy you soon find yourself with nothing left to defend.
Sorry, one of my hobby horses.
Sorry to dredge up an old post, but I've been itching to find something to link in with what I feel I need to say (in future, I shall try to remember the Samaritans...)
I watched the first part of "Make Me A Christian" on Sunday night. I don't usually watch reality TV but decided to make an exception purely because it sounded interesting. In particular, I was interested to see how the varying "mentors" approached their tasks of dealing with a variety of people at varying stages of spiritual quests. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen anything more offensive in my life.
Showing a 10 week pregnant woman videos of abortions in an attempt to demonstrate its moral wrongness? Sorry, that's just reprehensible. And finding someone's weak point and pushing at it until she crumbles so that it can be filled with whatever the "mentor" wishes to fill it with is nothing short of brainwashing. And how the evangelical pastor didn't get his face punched in when he booked an appointment at a clap clinic for one "client" - without telling him until he got there - will definitely go down as one of life's little miracles.
Anyway, enough of that. It's a deeply objectionable way of doing something.
However, I did notice one theological flaw that all of the ministers - Baptist, evangelical, Catholic and Anglican - all made, and actively encouraged. The worship of Jesus. My recollection of the gospels is fuzzy at best, but even I recall Jesus rebuking his own disciples for this. He did say "I am the Way the Truth and the Life" but he also said "Noboby comes to the Father except through me". Jesus' point was that he set the example for which a Christian must follow if he wishes to obtain communion with God - not that Jesus himself was god.
If this is the current state of organised christianity, I am so pleased that I'm not a part of it.
Posted by: Stef | August 12, 2008 at 04:37 PM
I agree Stef; I watched about 20 minutes then switched over to Frasier which never ceases to entertain.
As a Deist it was rather annoying to have "Make Me" showing on one day and "The Genuis Of Atheism: Charles Dawin" the next.
As A Deist, I was loathe to choose between!
--Nick
Posted by: Nick | August 12, 2008 at 08:35 PM