Posted on 09/12/2003 7:51:41 AM PDT by KC Burke
”An invitation to join the great company of those who boldly contend for a living tradition.”—Richard John Neuhaus, editor in chief of First Things
“In a very perceptive way, Thomas Oden has articulated the crisis of faith in which many believers find themselves. His provocative response, in using the framework of Vincent of Lerins, can open the doors for dialogue between groups who in the past found little in common. Professor Oden’s personal conversion has enriched the entire church.”—Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago
“Fromn the tomb of modernism, the ancient faith is reborn. Tom Oden dares us to take up again ‘what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all.” How bracing it is to encounter a mind which is content to be profound without the compulsion to be original.”—J. Budzizzewski, Department of Government and Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin, author of What We Can’t Not Know; A Guide.
Orthodoxy’s Call for a More Radical Diversity, Inclusion, Tolerance, and Empathy
The modern idea of diversity is less diverse than the ancient ecumenical idea of eccumene. The classic concept of eccumene. (universal, the whole world) spans many generations—even milleninia—while the modern idea of diversity spans but a single century (or more likely only a slice of that – one generation, or one subset of on generation, such as a particular coterie of youth culture). Because modern diversity has no time to listen to other generations it risks a massive loss of wisdom.
Likewise, the modern idea of inclusion is less inclusive than the classic Christian understanding of inclusion. The classic understanding rises from the more radical inclusiveness of God’s mercy toward all, as creator of all, redeemer of all, and consummator of all history. God’s work in creation is given to all, even if some refuse the gift. God’s action on the cross is offered for all, even if only some accept it. God’s promise for the futre of history encompasses all, even if some will voluntarily reject grace. The modern version typically focuses on only one particular disenfranchised interest group.
The contrast continues: the modern conceit of tolerance is less tolerant than the ancient ecumenical ethic of long-suffering forbearance. Modern tolerance depends on a relativism that gives up on the search for truth before it begins, whereas classic Christian forebearance seeks the highest common denominator: our human participation in the divine-human covenant (as represented in repentance, humility, and cross-bearing). Out of this call for participation comes a higher-level energy for social reconstruction unburdened by illusions.
The modern version of absolute equality embodies less empathy than the ancient ecumenical idea of compassion, which puts a neighbor’s need above one’s own. The modern idea of absolute equality survives on the thinness of passing human sypathies, whereas the classic Christian understanding of compassion radiates the full depth of God’s own compassion for all humanity, as shown in God’s willingness to become flesh and die for our sins. Classic Christianity is not a substitute for democracy; it is the leading progenitor of it.
Haven’t you wanted to read a David Horowitz style conversion of a top Professor of Religion from a mainline denomination?
This isn’t posted in religion as it is predominantly a conservative work, only about religion. The similar story is told by Horowitz in politics, and hopefully soon by someone in academia, sociology and other fields.
In his own personal history, which is only a small part of the book, he shows how similar his background, schooling and perverse philosophy he was to Hillary Clinton, for instance! Damn, this is a great book.
He takes us down the path which shows, for one example, that the world Anglican turn to orthodoxy by a nine to one margin at the Lambeth Conference is what we should be focusing on and not the political farce of one ECUSA action to advance the homosexual agenda. He shows how the once leading leftist-liberal mainstream denomination, the Methodists, are having a reversal and major move toward orthodoxy. He shows the political perversion of the World Council of Churches and other, so-called, ecumenical movements of the left and charts their downfalls. He shows how this movement is in Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish traditions and what we can hope for if the laymen and laywomen just get busy.
Finally to my friends outside these traditions, it shows how the high-jacking of Christian of true Christian sentiment by leftist sentimentality was done and how it is coming to an end, an historical and social story that all conservatives and libertarians should find of interest.
I happened upon one copy of this at Barnes and Noble while on vacation and it blew me away. It utilizes first millineum ecuminical principles that settled the early and major problems in Christianity to renew our mainline denominations perverted by modernity and liberalism.
Wow. This sounds like a great book, KC. Thank you so much for the heads-up!
Yes they have.
Orthodoxy is not dogma, but craft. Craft is the basic knowledge and skill to acomplish a task. Modernity and liberalism sought to eliminate the need for the learning of orthodoxy, or craft and to go on to directly create "art". They wound up making only trash. In both society, politics and religion.
A point I wish I had thought of, myself. Modern diversity is an ahistorical humanism.
PC ness is certainly not tolerance, it is a straight jacket for the mind. Tolerance is an attitude, not a dogma. It is imposed from within, not without.
The author is too kind. "Diversity" is an excuse to play the anti-white race card but it goes out the window if the nominally favored non-white individual expresses conservative ideals. Thomas Sowell is not a Liberal icon.
In part, he points out that first milineum Christianity survived even the denial of the Incarnation for almost a century by the strength of layity and lower orders steadfastness, even to the point of martyrdom, thereby having the church return to its Apostolic truth. That is only a small part of the points he makes on that subject.
The book will give you heart and ideas that you may welcome.
Freegards
Thanks for the ping!
you weren't around when I posted this 16 months ago...didn't know if you had ever come across it.
its well worth the time.
Thanks - it was very interesting. Did you ever read
"The Empty Church" by Thomas Reeves? He deals with some
of the themes you touched upon.
Like balm for a weary soul. Until we re-embrace the profound in our past, there will BE no originality. The left (Hollywood) repeats its threadbare cynical story again and again and again. No one cares. No one is listening. The only think *I* care about Christmas is that I'll be in church. Other than that I can do without holidays. Except for Easter, and we need to revive that Traditional Feast as well because it doesn't seem like many embrace it any more.
There is an optomistic assurance of the work of the Holy Spirit that Oden points us to in surviving these times of trial, especially in the ECUSA.
I do find myself returning to the T. S. Elliot resolve of hunkering down and being ready to "redeem the time" and the assurance that Oden passes along is welcome.
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