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To: marshmallow
Sadly, (for Paisley), he had become an anachronism in his own country and any "power" which was present in his preaching appeared to have largely evaporated. Protestantism in Northern Island is essentially moribund as indeed is religion in general in the UK, Islam aside. Orange parades still occur but they have nothing to do with religion and the message of salvation. They're largely a celebration of tradition and cultural Protestantism, not unlike Saint Patrick's Day parades.

As for Paisley's preaching, it never was a message to come to Jesus. It was a mixture of political activism tied to Westminster due to the historical Protestant roots of the Crown, mixed in with a generous measure of anti-Catholicism. As the British state gradually abandoned any pretense of religiosity and both Anglicanism and the monarchy fell into disrepute, the hollowness of his cause became obvious. Britain was no longer the flagship of Protestantism in the world but a pagan and apostate nation.

Perhaps as a result of this, Paisley himself mellowed significantly over the last couple of decades. The political Paisley began to work with the likes of McGuiness and Adams and the outbursts about Popery became fewer and less intense. The British no longer feel threatened by a Papist takeover of their country and are too busy making whoopee to take seriously the historical Paisley. In the end, it's not clear that the 2014 Paisley really believed the 1969 Paisley.

May God reward the good he did and be merciful to him in his sins.

RIP.

IMO a fair and honest eulogy. Thank you for posting it.

39 posted on 09/12/2014 8:53:14 AM PDT by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: Alex Murphy
IMO a fair and honest eulogy.

Yes, my sentiments also.

45 posted on 09/12/2014 11:04:55 AM PDT by sasportas
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To: Alex Murphy

Yes I think I agree with you.


72 posted on 09/13/2014 11:25:49 AM PDT by Vanders9
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