I'd argue that with the onset of further societal and economic decline, you would naturally see a return to religion as a means to sate the populace following their lack of distraction caused by paramount decline. Nothing to the extent where it'd have driving political force but enough to where that could once again be a possibility in the future due to a general rise of spirituality and decline of secularism among the regular individual. As you stated in your article, consolation is ever-present in the modern day with the accommodations and niceties we currently posses. In a hypothetical, perhaps near-present future where those consolations are taken away from the people, would we not naturally see a rise in religion once more? Especially a resurgence of monotheism which has been abundantly made clear to be a primary instinctual want.
The flaw in the argument here seems to be the assumption that a return to spirituality among Europeans must necessarily consolidate on a single solution, measured by something archaic like "weekly church attendance" or "a non-platonic paganism".
It's far more likely that we will see balkanization of creeds along racial, ethnic, and even geographical lines as central authority breaks down across the west. This is the essence of folkishness, and in that sense would represent a return to tradition.
If Europe is balkanized geographically in regional pockets of one dominant creed or another that could work, but it won't be. Having a marketplace of faiths creates the spiritual equivalent to the language case of God's punishment for trying to build the Tower of Babble: dysfunctional chaos. To have a shared functional society where collective work can be taken to a high level, we need a shared language, culture and moral operating system, for lack of a better way of describing it. I think Christians have to see Protestantism for the hubris filled project is was and return to Catholicism. Roman Catholicism in the West and Orthodoxy in the East, and if we are serious and faithful enough and God wills it, we can help bring these two branches back into communion as one united, true Apostolic faith, One Church founded by Christ. This is the foundational belief system of European Civilization and our heritage. For the pitch we might make to full on moderns - atheists, agnostics, hedonists, nihilists, believers in scientism and progress, and the generally thoughtless and superficial - I think E Michael Jones provides some strong practical evidence for the dangers of hubris and abandoning Christ. I think everyone who wants to be a beacon for Christ can get a lot out of Pascal's "Penses" since he was a genius and he did a great job grappling with the weaknesses of these belief systems in their earlier stages of rolling out. I am reading Peter Kreeft's presentation and discussion of what he felt was the best of this material under the title "Christianity for Modern Pagens: Pascal's Penses." Would love to hear thoughts of others who have spent time with Pascal's Penses.
I think some clarification about what happens when would help clear up some things. I believe in 10-50 years things will become more secular, but after that I think the genetic/religious/reproductive affect will kick in and start making itself felt in the 50 year and beyond range. At least for awhile anyways. Looking too far in the future is impossible
First of all, never ever make predictions about the future because nobody knows the future. Yes, people are too selfish and materialistic for religion, but they always have been selfish even when they were religious. There’s no such thing as a bottom-up change. All change is enforced by people who have power. I agree that religion can’t compete with secularism, but secularism itself is coming to an end as the state is increasingly appealing to semi-religious ideas in order to silence dissent. Ask yourself how much science is being censored in the name of tolerance and equality? Little by little, empiricism and rationality gets sidelined. Individual freedom itself is being eroded under the total state. Once individualism is done away with, religion (whichever type) can make a come back.
And catholicism has been conquered by secularism thoroughly. Orthodoxy still stands strong even against the tide of Islam and communism. Meanwhile the Pope has removed catholic confessional states and claims muslims and catholics worship the same god.
You discussed paganism here. Firstly, I’m not sure if paganism sees religion and politics or the “church and state” as mutually exclusive anyway.
Secondly, you talked about how in our current paradigm, worshiping ‘the gods’ is superficial as it doesn’t have a basis in a lived tradition and hasn’t had so for a very long time.
With tribalism on the rise, or ‘folkishness’ as Imperium Press and Co. would call it, do you see any potential for a reanimation of pagan traditions in the spiritual void we’re headed for? Even if it doesn’t take the same, or even takes a very different form, to the religion of the adherents of Odin and Zeus?
Appreciate "books could be written", but a bit more exploration of New Age spirituality might have been productive, and a reference to Integral Theory rewarding
Sociologist Rodney Stark seems to have good evidence to claim that Christianity in the first place spread from the bottom up. I suggest we try to stop looking at this from a modernist mechanistic mindset/paradigm/world view where we track the apparent social forces impacting the rise and fall of religiosity over time and instead try to look at it with a mindset of a faithful Catholic. It seems that if we submit to God's will and work hard to be faithful and true about being a credible witness to Christ's teaching, we can be a part of a resurgence of Catholic faith in the modern era if God wills it. Either way, we will have the benefit of the joy of a heart filled with God, the protection of God and the good company of faithful and inspiring people in the lifeboat.
I'd argue that with the onset of further societal and economic decline, you would naturally see a return to religion as a means to sate the populace following their lack of distraction caused by paramount decline. Nothing to the extent where it'd have driving political force but enough to where that could once again be a possibility in the future due to a general rise of spirituality and decline of secularism among the regular individual. As you stated in your article, consolation is ever-present in the modern day with the accommodations and niceties we currently posses. In a hypothetical, perhaps near-present future where those consolations are taken away from the people, would we not naturally see a rise in religion once more? Especially a resurgence of monotheism which has been abundantly made clear to be a primary instinctual want.
The flaw in the argument here seems to be the assumption that a return to spirituality among Europeans must necessarily consolidate on a single solution, measured by something archaic like "weekly church attendance" or "a non-platonic paganism".
It's far more likely that we will see balkanization of creeds along racial, ethnic, and even geographical lines as central authority breaks down across the west. This is the essence of folkishness, and in that sense would represent a return to tradition.
If Europe is balkanized geographically in regional pockets of one dominant creed or another that could work, but it won't be. Having a marketplace of faiths creates the spiritual equivalent to the language case of God's punishment for trying to build the Tower of Babble: dysfunctional chaos. To have a shared functional society where collective work can be taken to a high level, we need a shared language, culture and moral operating system, for lack of a better way of describing it. I think Christians have to see Protestantism for the hubris filled project is was and return to Catholicism. Roman Catholicism in the West and Orthodoxy in the East, and if we are serious and faithful enough and God wills it, we can help bring these two branches back into communion as one united, true Apostolic faith, One Church founded by Christ. This is the foundational belief system of European Civilization and our heritage. For the pitch we might make to full on moderns - atheists, agnostics, hedonists, nihilists, believers in scientism and progress, and the generally thoughtless and superficial - I think E Michael Jones provides some strong practical evidence for the dangers of hubris and abandoning Christ. I think everyone who wants to be a beacon for Christ can get a lot out of Pascal's "Penses" since he was a genius and he did a great job grappling with the weaknesses of these belief systems in their earlier stages of rolling out. I am reading Peter Kreeft's presentation and discussion of what he felt was the best of this material under the title "Christianity for Modern Pagens: Pascal's Penses." Would love to hear thoughts of others who have spent time with Pascal's Penses.
The Catholic faith is the only solution to every problem on earth.
I think some clarification about what happens when would help clear up some things. I believe in 10-50 years things will become more secular, but after that I think the genetic/religious/reproductive affect will kick in and start making itself felt in the 50 year and beyond range. At least for awhile anyways. Looking too far in the future is impossible
First of all, never ever make predictions about the future because nobody knows the future. Yes, people are too selfish and materialistic for religion, but they always have been selfish even when they were religious. There’s no such thing as a bottom-up change. All change is enforced by people who have power. I agree that religion can’t compete with secularism, but secularism itself is coming to an end as the state is increasingly appealing to semi-religious ideas in order to silence dissent. Ask yourself how much science is being censored in the name of tolerance and equality? Little by little, empiricism and rationality gets sidelined. Individual freedom itself is being eroded under the total state. Once individualism is done away with, religion (whichever type) can make a come back.
Secularism can only be prevented by the Orthodox Church ☦️
Islam already conquered Orthodox.
And catholicism has been conquered by secularism thoroughly. Orthodoxy still stands strong even against the tide of Islam and communism. Meanwhile the Pope has removed catholic confessional states and claims muslims and catholics worship the same god.
Nobody cares about whatever Jew desert sect you follow
Wow that's so insightful please enlighten me more on your amazing understanding of religious history.
A quest for a singular spiritual foundation of the European people -- a hero's journey, fellows. Go for it, who perceives the call.
You discussed paganism here. Firstly, I’m not sure if paganism sees religion and politics or the “church and state” as mutually exclusive anyway.
Secondly, you talked about how in our current paradigm, worshiping ‘the gods’ is superficial as it doesn’t have a basis in a lived tradition and hasn’t had so for a very long time.
With tribalism on the rise, or ‘folkishness’ as Imperium Press and Co. would call it, do you see any potential for a reanimation of pagan traditions in the spiritual void we’re headed for? Even if it doesn’t take the same, or even takes a very different form, to the religion of the adherents of Odin and Zeus?
Appreciate "books could be written", but a bit more exploration of New Age spirituality might have been productive, and a reference to Integral Theory rewarding
Sociologist Rodney Stark seems to have good evidence to claim that Christianity in the first place spread from the bottom up. I suggest we try to stop looking at this from a modernist mechanistic mindset/paradigm/world view where we track the apparent social forces impacting the rise and fall of religiosity over time and instead try to look at it with a mindset of a faithful Catholic. It seems that if we submit to God's will and work hard to be faithful and true about being a credible witness to Christ's teaching, we can be a part of a resurgence of Catholic faith in the modern era if God wills it. Either way, we will have the benefit of the joy of a heart filled with God, the protection of God and the good company of faithful and inspiring people in the lifeboat.