Food for thought
Constantine ... the Church entered on
its apostasy from the primitive simplicity
and purity which marked its earlier history.
Pagans in vast multitudes pressed
into the Christian fold, bringing with
them old practices and customs, and
filling the places of Christian worship
with the pageantry and ornaments that
characterized the worship of the gods
in heathen temples. These unconverted
millions became only nominally Christian,
impressing the doctrines, rites,
and forms of pagan religion upon the
Christian Church.” (The Old Catholic
Church by W. D. Killen D.D.; 1871)
Very eye-opening. I've known about this concept, but this is a very concise and clear quote about the phenomenon of pagan influence in Christian churches, and why most churches today -- both Protestant and Catholic -- present alloyed, impure versions of Christianity -- a worldly-Christian hybrid faith. There is no end to our culture's pagan pursuits, even in most churches. What's "cool" will always draw more people than what's true. (Hence, "the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matt 7:13-14)
Bye for now.
_________________
Christianity is different than Judaism only in people's minds -- not in the Bible.
Prior to Constantine, there were several variations of Christianity, (Gnostics, and others) which came to be labeled and condemned as heresies.
Constantine was also responsible for codifying Christianity through the Nicean Council.
It may be difficult to say which variation of primitive and pure Christianity was the correct one.
_________________
hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
I can't believe that no-one else is participating in the discussion. Was my first post really a knock-out blow to Ragtime?
Anywho, an excellent relevant movie that I can recommend is Agora
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186830/
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbuEhwselE0[/youtube]
The trailor is incorrect: it isn't "the last days of the Roman Empire", but the movie does deal nicely with the Roman Empire's transition to Christianity. Rachel Weisz does an excellent job as Hypatia.
_________________
hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
Bye for now.
Nihil novi sub sole.
The Church, all churches, and all religious institutions of any faith are social and cultural institutions that depend for their survival upon an ongoing base of adherents. The Church of the 21st century is a very different institution than the church of the 19th century, which was, itself, much changed from the Church of the 17th century. Thus it has ever been.
The Church is caught in a quandary. Its philosophical foundation lies in revealed truth, fixed and unchanging. But its temporal foundation rests upon relevance.
There can never be an unalloyed Christianity. Ever. Because her scripture is a product of the alloyed, impure Church. The first canonical list of scripture that conforms with the current Roman Catholic Old Testament is the Council of Hippo, in 393. (The Orthodox and Protestant canons did not, of course, exist until those churches emerged in the 11th and 16th centuries). The New Testament canon also emerged in the 4th century.
Perhaps a more worthwhile pursuit is not the quest for some mythical, unobtainable, unalloyed Christianity, but rather an introspective assessment by individual adherents as to whether the Church (or, indeed any religious tradition embraced by the adherent) is fulfilling its mission, as it applies to that individual adherent.
Clearly the Roman Catholic Church does not provide me with any meaningful spiritual guidance. But that does not mean that she cannot do so for another. On the other hand, religious traditions that are meaningful to me are not necessarily of value to others. If we can take any lesson from this it should be the humble admission that there is no universal truth, and that the faith of one believer is just as valid as the faith of any other believer--or any non-believer.
_________________
--James
Many Evangelical cults make the claim that they are following pure, unalloyed Christianity. It makes for good advertising, and many cult members actually believe it.
None of them have any idea what they are talking about. A lot of them also claim to believe in scriptural inerrancy (and other blah-di-blah-blah), without understanding that the New Testament wasn't formally canonized until Constantine.
Jehovah's Witnesses have been pretty good about not celebrating Christmas (because it was a Pagan holiday which later became a Christian holiday). And not celebrating anything but Easter (but without the painted eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies, of course). They won't even celebrate birthdays.
So, pagans know how to party. Wouldn't life be bland, without an occasional festival or celebration, even if the celebration has pagan roots?
Is blandness indeed a consummation devoutly to be desired?
_________________
hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
If we are to revert to original Christianity, as practised in the time of the Apostles, then consider
And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "One who Encourages"), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles.
But there was a man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira sold some property that belonged to them. But with his wife's agreement he kept part of the money for himself and turned the rest over to the apostles. Peter said to him, "Ananias, why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? Before you sold the property, it belonged to you; and after you sold it, the money was yours. Why, then, did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to people—you have lied to God!"
As soon as Ananias heard this, he fell down dead; and all who heard about it were terrified. The young men came in, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
About three hours later his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. Peter asked her, "Tell me, was this the full amount you and your husband received for your property?"
"Yes," she answered, "the full amount."
So Peter said to her, "Why did you and your husband decide to put the Lord's Spirit to the test? The men who buried your husband are at the door right now, and they will carry you out too!" At once she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and saw that she was dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. The whole church and all the others who heard of this were terrified.
Most Evangelical preachers won't talk about the part that comes from Acts 4, because it sounds too much like "Communism", and the Evangelical preachers aren't really interested in sharing their loot with people in need.
But, they are interested in scaring their parishioners with the story of what happened to Ananias and his wife, so that they won't hold back on their contributions. "The first ten percent of your income isn't yours: it belongs to GOD!! !" I've heard Pastor Hagee proclaim. And, his followers need to give him gifts on top of the tithes.
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hyperlexian: "WP is not society"
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