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**finnmontserrat** · 09-13-2006, 08:56 AM

But who is responsible for this ignorance? How is it that we are in a society where young people can be exposed to nothing to do with Christianity? Is this a lamentable failure by the Western Churches?

I wonder whether, in trying to become (as they see it) 'relevant', the Western (non-Orthodox) Churches have simply become part of secular society and as such, are unable to fulfil the spiritual needs of their flocks?

I think the decline of Christianity in Europe, and particularly Britain has very deep roots, reaching back to the “Enlightenment” and the Age of Reason of the 17th-18th Centuries onward (even further if one wants to look at the events which led to these). I also think the Anglican Church’s relationship to the institutions and people to whom this movement can be attributed is of great importance in understanding its decline.

From a Christian perspective, Christianity is the Truth, and nothing less than this. It is not a mere philosophical concept, but divine revelation. As such, it is not something subject to change or revision. I think this is what has led to the demise of the Western churches; the reforms of Vatican II (which the current Pope has admitted did not work) are a perfect example of this.

Of course, one cannot put all blame on the Western churches for society’s secularisation. I think their failure lies in their inability to “pick up the pieces.” When people now look to the Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran churches of Europe, they see something opaque, ever changing, subjective, etc. They see, if you will, a house built on sand.

I think the churches' attemps to make themselves relevant is exactly the reason they are rejected as irrelevant by many people. If religion can offer me nothing more than the secular society, what relevance does it have for me?

I am no expert on the development of Western philosophy or society, and so what I have said above might be complete rubbish; but it is certainly the impression I get.

In XC,
Kris

09-13-2006, 08:56 AM	#25
finnmontserrat Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 392 Senior Member	But who is responsible for this ignorance? How is it that we are in a society where young people can be exposed to nothing to do with Christianity? Is this a lamentable failure by the Western Churches? I wonder whether, in trying to become (as they see it) 'relevant', the Western (non-Orthodox) Churches have simply become part of secular society and as such, are unable to fulfil the spiritual needs of their flocks? I think the decline of Christianity in Europe, and particularly Britain has very deep roots, reaching back to the “Enlightenment” and the Age of Reason of the 17th-18th Centuries onward (even further if one wants to look at the events which led to these). I also think the Anglican Church’s relationship to the institutions and people to whom this movement can be attributed is of great importance in understanding its decline. From a Christian perspective, Christianity is the Truth, and nothing less than this. It is not a mere philosophical concept, but divine revelation. As such, it is not something subject to change or revision. I think this is what has led to the demise of the Western churches; the reforms of Vatican II (which the current Pope has admitted did not work) are a perfect example of this. Of course, one cannot put all blame on the Western churches for society’s secularisation. I think their failure lies in their inability to “pick up the pieces.” When people now look to the Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran churches of Europe, they see something opaque, ever changing, subjective, etc. They see, if you will, a house built on sand. I think the churches' attemps to make themselves relevant is exactly the reason they are rejected as irrelevant by many people. If religion can offer me nothing more than the secular society, what relevance does it have for me? I am no expert on the development of Western philosophy or society, and so what I have said above might be complete rubbish; but it is certainly the impression I get. In XC, Kris
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