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So What cha' Think?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by HAMel, Nov 7, 2013.

  1. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    Please note the following is NOT my personal critique of the following material but thought I'd throw it out and see what some of you think about the subject matter.

    By Line: JIM FLETCHER, regarding a newly released book penned by Kevin Swanson entitled, “Whatever happened to Western civilization?”
    Source: http://www.wnd.com/2013/11/how-christian-america-was-sabotaged/?cat_orig=faith
    ...there, got all that settled. Now to the gist of this post.

    "Remember the Moral Majority? Remember how many thought there was a way to “take back” America? Well, the truth is perhaps a bit more nuanced.

    The fact is, Christianity has been losing ground from the beginning – and isn’t that logical? If we believe in a cosmic drama unfolding, we can expect opposition. While it is true that some of the Founders were Christian, the faith has been under attack since, well, let Kevin Swanson take it from here:

    “Whatever happened to Western civilization?” Swanson asks. “Somehow, Christians have lost ground in every cultural area of leadership and influence in Europe and America since 1700. This is an indisputable fact. The remaining Christians search for an explanation. They want to know how it happened.”

    Swanson has explained how it happened in a new book, “Apostate: The Men Who Destroyed the Christian West.” For the millions in the pews of churches today, who seem disoriented, this book is an incredible resource for understanding the big picture.

    Swanson, a Colorado pastor, explains in fascinating detail the decline of Western civilization, brought about by change agents who never took a day off. For those of us who thought life would sort of just always go on as it always has, think again. “Apostate” blows the lid off that fantasy.

    Swanson’s analysis of the roles played by men like Charles Darwin (obvious), John Locke, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Dewey, and Nathaniel Hawthorne – among others – is so compelling, “Apostate” should be a Bible study in churches across the land.

    In a supremely clever and eye-opening bit of writing, Swanson refers to these men as the “Nephilim,” which of course find their fame in the book of Genesis – the mysterious beings who sought to corrupt mankind. It is a precise and descriptive word to explain the dark agendas that unfold in this book.

    Let’s take Hawthorne for example. As Swanson writes: “Nathaniel Hawthorne was the 19th century American literary giant who did more to shift the American culture away from its national Christian heritage than anyone else. His hatred of the Puritans was deeply personal, relentlessly bitter and marginally psychotic.”

    And I just thought Hawthorne was stone-cold boring.

    Or take the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who is part of this cabal that Swanson describes as “utterly ruinous.” Rousseau, according to Swanson, has “fingerprints all over the institutions of the modern world. Schools, churches, and governments have incorporated his ideologies in their organized methodologies.” Indeed, the revolutions that devastated France, Germany, China and Russia were rooted in Rousseau’s ideologies.

    Rousseau, whose life spanned much of the 18th century, was a backslidden Christian. His grandfather was a Calvinist preacher! His mother died soon after childbirth and his father abandoned him, leaving the young Rousseau to pursue a life of hedonism. His ideas incubated until reaching full flower as an influential “man of ideas.” We are still reeling from the effects of his altered worldview.

    Or how about Nietzsche? This man, who contributed to the atmosphere in which Higher Critical methods of biblical interpretation sprouted and flourished, is today – wrap your mind around this – quoted often by rising evangelical leaders in America.

    In his own day, as Swanson points out, Nietzsche was, well, poison: “Nietzsche’s ideas were extremely toxic, and his influence vast. In fact, this son of a pastor may have been the most dangerous philosopher of the last millennium. Nobody defied God with as much animate force and vigor as Nietzsche. By his own testimony, he fully intended to strike ‘a destructive blow against Christianity.’”

    A lesser-known toxic presence – in the context of “Apostate” – was William Shakespeare.

    Swanson has done his research, and shows that the Bard was a somewhat shadowy figure: “Mystery surrounds his education, religious background and his induction into the theater scene in London.”

    Swanson also pulls back the curtain on a key plot point with regard to Shakespeare and the influence of theater (which of course has evolved in our day to film): “Since Shakespeare’s day, the theater and the fine arts have become seedbeds for homosexual themes and homosexual behavior.”

    Swanson explores the relationship between Shakespeare and fellow playwright Christopher Marlowe, and notes that Shakespeare left his wife, Anne Hathaway.

    These are among the amazing profiles Swanson addresses as he shines an important light on the roots of anti-Christian thought in Europe and even America. It’s a critical contribution to the literature and should be studied by anyone interested in the rise and fall of civilizations."


    So, what 'cha think? Shakespeare, Marlowe, Nietzsche, Rousseau, Darwin, John Locke, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Dewey, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. (I'd provide a source to all these folks but that would be a bit too much and yes, I'm being sarcastic)

    Do you think/believe our schools, churches and governments have incorporated these ideals from those named above to the point the average student(s) have been brainwashed?

    ...I do.
     
    #1 HAMel, Nov 7, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 7, 2013
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    I get tired of everything getting blamed on the "failings" of the church. Does anyone not read scripture anymore? Does pragmatism devoid of any scriptural considerations now rule the day?


    All of this was prophesied and it is not over yet.
     
  3. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    I get tired of everything getting blamed on the "failings" of the church. Does anyone not read scripture anymore? Does pragmatism devoid of any scriptural considerations now rule the day?


    All of this was prophesied and it is not over yet.


    With humble respect, Revmitchell, there are millions of people out there who don't read scripture..., not only anymore, but those who have never read scripture.

    In my opinion however this piece is NOT ABOUT blaming the church but rather..., giving all of us an insight as to WHY attitudes are as they are today toward spiritual matters.
     
  4. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    For one, it is being promoted by World Net Daily, so shaky credibility right out of the box.

    Second, what is really new here? These observations, critiques, what have you, have been made many times before.

    Third, brainwashed? No, this is secular society that has secular ideas that they teach in a secular manner. Besides this assumes that our children already have a non-secular point of view which is not necessarily the case.
     
  5. thisnumbersdisconnected

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    So they probably won't give a rip about Christian opinions about what's wrong with America and the world, will they?
     
  6. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    There was a great shift perpetrated by the returning soldiers of WWII.

    It lay dormant for much of the next 20 years, but was taught to the children of that generation and has been devastating in the impact.

    It is found in a single word - respect.

    Now, before WWII, it seems that most folks learned that respect was given, and even those of WWII had accepted that as a standard. However, what they taught was respect is earned.

    Totally different concept - and the end is reflected in the attitudes of much of the modern world societies.

    If you think respect is earned, please let us all know how much it will cost us, so we can buy it from you.

    If you think respect is given, then it matters very little what station, action, or situation you are found, you will likely be given and give respect, because everyone has a belly button.
     
  7. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    It all tells me yet again God is Sovereign and always reserves a remnant. He Himself allows the effectiveness of the church, controls revivals - when they come, the droves that are saved &c. Many are truly praying for people to get saved,church to grow, and more, yet the answer is ultimately up to God.

    The apostates have never been the church and never will be the church, and you can bet God controls that as well, and allows what He wills to allow.
     
  8. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Just a passing thought, for those who have already posted here. Considering American history, at what point in the past 237 years do you think our nation has been the closest to the Lord collectively or a nation closest to what the Lord would have us to be? About what year or decade and why?
     
  9. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    I sho' 'nuff hopes dat' when i's grows up i's bee's smart as some of 'dem folks wha' post on heeaar!

    It does 'pear to me..., course, u all knows 'dat I'm no gaduate of any institution of higher lernin' and 'cernment regardin' 'da Bible an all but World Net Daily be 'da only news media i's found wif' contriubin' writers regarding spiritual issues.

    ...stiff necked does come to mind.
     
  10. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Seriously after all the above drivel what you are really saying is that you see yourself as above everyone else and taunt everyone else in this thread.

    ...haughtiness comes to mind. :type:
     
  11. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    Seriously after all the above drivel what you are really saying is that you see yourself as above everyone else and taunt everyone else in this thread.

    ...haughtiness comes to mind.
    .

    Haughtiness? Quite the contrary.

    Drivel? To you perhaps.

    I do however have a problem with those who know it all. Actually, they are quite boring. Really, how can the average person even begin to effectively communicate with such lofty individuals?

    Besides, know it all's are as annoying to me as Rap music.
     
    #11 HAMel, Nov 7, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 7, 2013
  12. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Actually friend it describes you as you've made yourself out to be above all other's who've posted in this thread. In that you were most assuredly haughty.
     
  13. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    Now, to clear the air a bit let me provide what I got out of the article.

    First, we all know and agree that God's word will never change. It's the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It will be forever.

    Has the mode of transportation changed? How many of you still go out on a cold morning with a crank in your hand and start up the old Ford? No one. Now-a-days technology has changed to the point that many can merely push a button on the key pad and the vehicle will start on it's own.

    People of yesteryear, for the most part, readily accepted the Word of God and while they might not have actively engaged in any ministry at all, "respected" and "recognized" the fact that God was for real.

    In today's world attitudes have changed regarding the Lord. In my mind, the average church interested in reaching their respective communities merely need to change their delivery method(s), of the same age old message. The message and good news remain the same..., the delivery needs to brought in line with today's thinking.

    What are people thinking today? What do they think about the church and why? Seems to me that cranking up the old Ford like was done a century ago has become old hat and people just aren't interested. Why crank when you can push a button?
     
    #13 HAMel, Nov 7, 2013
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  14. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    Actually friend it describes you as you've made yourself out to be above all other's who've posted in this thread. In that you were most assuredly haughty.

    ...and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Including you.
     
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