Posted on 09/27/2014 4:33:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Christian conservatives are often the subject of study by academics, who seem to find their culture as foreign as that of Borneo tribesmen. And this is a particularly interesting time for brave social scientists to put on their pith helmets and head to Wheaton, Ill., Colorado Springs or unexplored regions of the South. They will find a community under external and internal cultural stress.
It is fair to say that some cultural views traditionally held by evangelicals are in retreat. Whatever the (likely dim) future of political libertarianism, moral libertarianism has been on the rise. This is perhaps the natural outworking of an enlightenment political philosophy that puts individual rights at its center. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy described this view as the “right to define one’s own concept of existence.”
Whatever else traditional religious views may entail, they involve a belief that existence comes pre-defined. Purpose is discovered, not exerted. And scripture and institutions — a community of believers extended back in time — are essential to that discovery. This is not, to put it mildly, the spirit of the age.
It was not, as far as I can tell, really the spirit of any age. But many evangelicals believe it was, subscribing to the myth of a lost American Eden. There has certainly been a cultural shift in the United States on religion and public life. But it has largely been from congenial contradiction to less-sympathetic contradiction. There is more criticism of the (thin) veneer of Protestant spirituality in public places. There is also a growing belief that individual rights need to be protected, not only from the state but also from religious institutions that don’t share public values.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Cultural Marxism Propaganda.
>Court Justice Anthony Kennedy described this view as the “right to define one’s own concept of existence.”
There is no other choice.
Nonsense! This package of falsehood comes from the Washington Compost, a worthless rag that manufactured a sequence of lies that led to the so-called "scandal" of Watergate. Specifically, everyone I know opposes sodomy in all forms. And that includes people much younger than me, several of whom are actually under the age of 45! In fact, the teenage girl across the street told me that homosexual "marriage" is "disgusting" (her words). More surprising is that her father is a liberal, albeit one who's trending toward the Christian Conservative values of Texas. No one...and I emphasize not one single person in my circle of acquaintances favors the homosexual agenda.
Christian principles and Conservatism are on the rise and will be triumphant! Mark my words.
If they came over here, they may find that Borneo tribesmen and definitely Papuan tribesmen are born-again, evangelical Christians.
Christians views will triumph because God is triumphant.
Arrogant “academics” wouldn’t be what they are if it weren’t for the benefits that they reap because of Christian culture.
Certainly not because of any muslim or atheist “culture”.
“moral libertarianism” = “moral libertinism”
>”There is an alternative: A commitment to civility, rooted in respect for universal human dignity. A passion for the common good, defined by inclusion of the most vulnerable. A belief in institutional religious freedom and pluralism for the benefit of everyone, including non-Christian faiths.”<
In other words, they shouldn’t resist when we take away their rights and then take them out and shoot them. . . .
The Post is still cheerleading for Satan's team.
May The Lord bless your good work and His flock throughout the world.
Very astute observation... :)
I have no idea what the comPost was trying to communicate with that quote. It just reads like a string of warm and fuzzy catch words that just repeats the wise philosophy gleaned from 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure'. I.e., 'Be Excellent to one another'. Deep.
The Bible is rife with messages of "a passion for the common good". A "passion for the common good", though, does not tell you to close your eyes if you see someone marching off to internal damnation.
Ezekiel 18:3b0-32 ... turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Christians do not introspect, except as a prelude to confessing their sin. The rest of the time, they extraspect in the direction of God, for worship, praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition, experience of His Presence, and for guidance. Then they extraspect in the direction of others, to fulfill that which God has guided them to do.
“Moral libertarianism”, I think, can be best defined as everybody doing what’s right in his or her own eyes. And now as in the time of the Book of Judges, I think you’re going to find the practical effect of that is that society becomes a big gooey hot mess. “Becomes”? Make that “is”.
And am I the only one who read the bit about the conflict between objectively and subjectively defined existence and thought of the tale of the Episcopal Ghost from Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”?
Several passages of scripture come to mind about the Last Days spoken of in the Bible. But the “right to define one’s own concept of existence,” sounds a lot like “everyone did what was right in his own eyes,” so nothing really new under the sun there Washington Post. But this “new found” right, in a Constitution that no one at the Post bothers to read will not have America end well at all. Sort of like the “right” to murder your unborn child, the death of marriage and who can forget death panels. I guess the Post is just licking their collective lips in hopes that Christianity in America is on it’s way out - or at least severely wounded. The American church is about to undergo intense persecution - perhaps it will work to refine her and prepare her to be the bride she is suppose to be before her King returns while those at the Post should perhaps invest in asbestos suits.
**one’s own concept of existence**
I certainly hope that one’s concept of existence includes God, who gave them their first breath and will be thre at the moment they take their last breath.
God determines our existence — not us.
later
Do Freepers know who the writer is...
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