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It is a bit of a tautology with not much to discuss.
Human history has always had a set of standards, and those standards have always changed. I imagine that a portion of the population has always thought the standards of the previous generation were better than the standards of the current generation.
I can think of examples of clergy that were, relatively speaking, progressive and others that were conservative. The same holds for politicians, writers, artists, and everybody else.
Some things are cyclical of course. Marriage was not a big deal for centuries, then it was, it now seems to be less important.
Homosexuality has been accepted in some cultures at some times, at other times less so.
Culture and scientific progress used to be centered in the East with ancient China, moved to Middle East, then to the west and Europe. We seem to be doing our best to stifle cultural and intellectual innovation in much of the west at the moment, but some other civilization will pick it up.
I don’t see how the OP has much of significance to say on these matters.
This is not a political topic. It's just an observation of how it's easy for progressives today to point a finger at today's conservatives, by comparing them to their religious figures of the past, since those past figures may have actually been progressive in their day. I'm not innocent in this either.
Understood. I just don't feel inclined to argue about today's conservatives. I do the god -claim and case for religion. Shirina can do in the conservatives much better than I can
Quote:
Originally Posted by nateswift
Actually Transponder answered quite well. If you have followed Mystic's thread which mentions the "spiritual fossil record" and my posts about the Bible being a record of a progression of perceptions about God through the history of the Hebrews you will see that you are approaching the same idea...... kewl.
"Praise from the praiseworthy is beyond all praise" ) Faramir in LoR TT.
Well, Harry, do the "mystery religions" named base their faith on the same Jewish revolutionary idea that is attributed to Jesus: Concern for the well-being of everyone in any situation extended to the whole world, not just your particular culture?
I realize that institutional Christianity in general has failed to live this out, but they always venerate the occasional ones who do (if they have not already murdered them).
The Christian paradigm was a major deviation from the 'norms', and indeed was, and still is, an inherently progressive theology, and it forced most of the others to 'compete' with it and alter much of their practices. The greatest social, legal, and cultural revolution in history in the numbers of lives improved and affected.
The Romans seemed quite willing to extend the freedom to practice religion to many faiths other than that of the Roman tradition with very few exceptions. When Christianity became the state religion it embarked on the extermination of non-Christian religions and cults across the board.
And it has continued to wield the same axe of intolerance against non-Christians and amongst Christian denominations and sects themselves until rather recently.
Not a very progressive record, rather the contrary.
The Romans seemed quite willing to extend the freedom to practice religion to many faiths other than that of the Roman tradition with very few exceptions. When Christianity became the state religion it embarked on the extermination of non-Christian religions and cults across the board.
And it has continued to wield the same axe of intolerance against non-Christians and amongst Christian denominations and sects themselves until rather recently.
Not a very progressive record, rather the contrary.
No, institutional Christianity doesn't have a good record, especially for not sticking to the revolutionary paradigm Christ taught. But somehow it survives and has influence.
The Romans seemed quite willing to extend the freedom to practice religion to many faiths other than that of the Roman tradition with very few exceptions. When Christianity became the state religion it embarked on the extermination of non-Christian religions and cults across the board.
And it has continued to wield the same axe of intolerance against non-Christians and amongst Christian denominations and sects themselves until rather recently.
Not a very progressive record, rather the contrary.
What I meant is that it is just on the "other side" of the progressives. In other words, it documents what was progressive a generation or two prior. But I'm really just speculating.
Well, Harry, do the "mystery religions" named base their faith on the same Jewish revolutionary idea that is attributed to Jesus: Concern for the well-being of everyone in any situation extended to the whole world, not just your particular culture?
I realize that institutional Christianity, in general, has failed to live this out, but they always venerate the occasional ones who do (if they have not already murdered them).
That seems fairly new.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nateswift
No, institutional Christianity doesn't have a good record, especially for not sticking to the revolutionary paradigm Christ taught. But somehow it survives and has influence.
Christianity survives because it represents an ongoing Son (progressive) sitting at the right hand of the Father (conservative), always getting ready to take over. Sometime just around the corner. And this image will endure because it doesn't really have to end.
Christianity survives because it represents an ongoing Son (progressive) sitting at the right hand of the Father (conservative), always getting ready to take over. Sometime just around the corner. And this image will endure because it doesn't really have to end.
I don't care, but you sound as if you don't understand a lot of things which to me seem very simple.
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) Faramir in LoR TT.
