Post by agito on Jul 3, 2008 14:32:31 GMT -6
My work email somehow ended up on the mailing list for onenewsnow,com . A "family" focused.. media thing.
Even though clicking on links in spam is not recommended, there was a headline that drew my eye
Universalism -- the end of Christian influence
the essence:
This belief that "all roads lead to God" is called universalism. ..... I am just stating a fact that this view of religion, again known as universalism, is in complete contradiction to Christianity. Read the New Testament. It is all about Jesus Christ being the only begotten Son of God and the only way to eternal life. There is nothing in there about other religious paths being an option. Being a Christian has never been subjective. There are certain essential doctrines that one must subscribe to in order to be considered a Christian.
the author takes issue with Obama's involvment in this approach, as well as Oprah and a large number of Americans who "don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life -- even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise."
My problem with Tim Wildmons article is that he doesn't seem to pay attention to himself. To wit: He makes the complaint
but at the very beginning of the article he states:
Well... which is it? protestantism, or catholicism? Is wildmon ascribing himself to a "micro"-universalism?
Wildmon states:
but the counter argument, most notably evidenced by Obama in his recent speech regarding evangelicism, is that you can't get theologically consistent answers from the bible either.
Indeed, maybe if that tome was better written, we wouldn't have our universe of christian organizations.
Tome allows for this:
Does this allow for us to reject parts of the bible and embrace others? This would seem the most pragmatic means of making use of this spiritual source.
Say that i dig the jesus-dude, but i have issues with flogging non-believers. Can i consider myself a christian? Isn't this a more mild form of the difference between catholics and protestants? What part of the bible was martin luther protesting when he nailed his commentary to the church door? Oh wait, he wasn't, he was protesting the churches interpretation of the bible. Doesn't acknowledging protestantism also render strict ascribance to the bible moot?
Apparently not for wildmon:
Tom Wildmon, i think Martin Luther would agree with you, and then set about arguing with you about issues of the new testament till the end of time.
The big crime of Wildmon's writing is that he completely misses a genuine issue of spirituality. If you are not disciplined in your practice, will you be rewarded? Most people think of religion as a means to an end: how to get into heaven. Check that, Most Religions think of people as a means to an end: how to get people into heaven (and whatever political and monetary factors that go along with it). But religion/spirituality is more like exercise, the more you do it, and the more discipline you have for it, the more you are rewarded in the here and now. To be spiritually discplined, (and rewarded) is to have a pride in your existence and conviction in your actions that enables you to look forward to the challenges of the next day, not to get fat in heaven.
I disagree strongly with Widlmon's conclusion:
Have ye no faith? Anyone who takes their spiritualism seriously will not be solve the mysteries of the universe by themself, they will turn to authoritative sources, the bible being one of the big ones. I would consider that an influence of consequence, maybe one that is more pure and genuine to the teachings of Jesus Christ than what the church has delivered previously.
Wildmon salvation is within himself, maybe one day he'll see it
In Christianity there is a phrase called "systematic theology."That is to say, there are intellectual building blocks upon which the faith is put together so that people can understand it. Another term used is "apologetics," which means a logical flow of ideas.
I think if Tom Wildmon where to conduct his spirtuality with more discipline and patience, he might discover an epiphany that even the jesus dude could dig.
Even though clicking on links in spam is not recommended, there was a headline that drew my eye
Universalism -- the end of Christian influence
the essence:
This belief that "all roads lead to God" is called universalism. ..... I am just stating a fact that this view of religion, again known as universalism, is in complete contradiction to Christianity. Read the New Testament. It is all about Jesus Christ being the only begotten Son of God and the only way to eternal life. There is nothing in there about other religious paths being an option. Being a Christian has never been subjective. There are certain essential doctrines that one must subscribe to in order to be considered a Christian.
the author takes issue with Obama's involvment in this approach, as well as Oprah and a large number of Americans who "don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life -- even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise."
My problem with Tim Wildmons article is that he doesn't seem to pay attention to himself. To wit: He makes the complaint
Being a Christian has never been subjective. There are certain essential doctrines that one must subscribe to in order to be considered a Christian
but at the very beginning of the article he states:
When you combine Catholicism with Protestantism, Christianity has always dominated the American religious landscape
Well... which is it? protestantism, or catholicism? Is wildmon ascribing himself to a "micro"-universalism?
Wildmon states:
Getting theologically consistent answers from "universalism" is like nailing Jell-O to the wall
but the counter argument, most notably evidenced by Obama in his recent speech regarding evangelicism, is that you can't get theologically consistent answers from the bible either.
Indeed, maybe if that tome was better written, we wouldn't have our universe of christian organizations.
Tome allows for this:
If you reject the Bible, that is your right
Does this allow for us to reject parts of the bible and embrace others? This would seem the most pragmatic means of making use of this spiritual source.
Say that i dig the jesus-dude, but i have issues with flogging non-believers. Can i consider myself a christian? Isn't this a more mild form of the difference between catholics and protestants? What part of the bible was martin luther protesting when he nailed his commentary to the church door? Oh wait, he wasn't, he was protesting the churches interpretation of the bible. Doesn't acknowledging protestantism also render strict ascribance to the bible moot?
Apparently not for wildmon:
I'm just saying let's not twist and distort what the New Testament explicitly teaches about the exclusivity of Jesus
Tom Wildmon, i think Martin Luther would agree with you, and then set about arguing with you about issues of the new testament till the end of time.
The big crime of Wildmon's writing is that he completely misses a genuine issue of spirituality. If you are not disciplined in your practice, will you be rewarded? Most people think of religion as a means to an end: how to get into heaven. Check that, Most Religions think of people as a means to an end: how to get people into heaven (and whatever political and monetary factors that go along with it). But religion/spirituality is more like exercise, the more you do it, and the more discipline you have for it, the more you are rewarded in the here and now. To be spiritually discplined, (and rewarded) is to have a pride in your existence and conviction in your actions that enables you to look forward to the challenges of the next day, not to get fat in heaven.
I disagree strongly with Widlmon's conclusion:
If this trend of universalism impacting the church continues, there will be no Christian influence of any consequence in America in 25 years.
Have ye no faith? Anyone who takes their spiritualism seriously will not be solve the mysteries of the universe by themself, they will turn to authoritative sources, the bible being one of the big ones. I would consider that an influence of consequence, maybe one that is more pure and genuine to the teachings of Jesus Christ than what the church has delivered previously.
Wildmon salvation is within himself, maybe one day he'll see it
In Christianity there is a phrase called "systematic theology."That is to say, there are intellectual building blocks upon which the faith is put together so that people can understand it. Another term used is "apologetics," which means a logical flow of ideas.
I think if Tom Wildmon where to conduct his spirtuality with more discipline and patience, he might discover an epiphany that even the jesus dude could dig.