Christians world-wide are under attack. They are being maimed and killed. The political elite class and the mainstream media both internationally and locally, mostly ignore this as part of their strategy to dismantle our Western democracy.
In part one of ‘Cultural Christians’, even though I am agnostic, I stated that I uphold the structure and foundation of Judeo-Christian values as being the foundation stone of Western democracy, whilst not believing in the ‘supernatural stuff’. A cultural Christian believes in self-will, critical thinking, equality for all and, of course, freedom.
Our rights are slowly and constantly being diminished by Marxists who have been planted among our elected and non-elected parliamentary officials. They have been indoctrinated by Marxist academics and educational unions at schools and universities with the connivance of the propagandists in the biased MSM.
In the comments made about part one, two commenters stood out. Both acknowledged the idea of promoting ‘Cultural Christianity’.
One was Archilochus who correctly added the influence of the classical world of Greece and Rome, especially Greece, where the very idea of democracy was born. The other was Tom who asked the question “What do I think is the foundation of Christian Culture”? Both those piqued my curiosity so I did some further contemplation and the following three characteristics stood out as important.
1) The equality of women:
In ancient cultures and in most societies, a wife generally was the property of the husband with very few exceptions. Some ancient philosophers supported this and today some ‘religions’ and ideologies still practice female subjugation.
Plato taught that women were inferior to men in every way. Physically spiritually and mentally.
Aristotle believed that a woman was somewhere between a free man and a slave. He called slaves ‘objects’ or ‘things’ – not people.
In ancient Rome women were not much better off. Wives were property, were married off young and were easily replaceable. Naturally I would love to discuss the truth of these philosophies with Plato and Aristotle but unfortunately this cannot be. However, their interpretation has been disputed by various scholars over many years.
From a philosophical perspective, Christianity had an impact on equality of the sexes. Historically, Christians conveniently ignored the message in the start of the bible which says that ‘God created man and woman in his image, both stand equal before God’.
Even though men and women were supposed to be equal partners, the functional social structure of the time meant men used their dominance and strength to subjugate women. Eventually, as society transitioned, the teachings gave way to a realisation that male dominance was a misuse of ‘free will’ and was deemed sinful by Christian society.
Despite the fact that Jesus ‘the philosopher’ was living in a harsh, patriarchal, violent and cruel society, his reported treatment of women was enlightening. For instance his defence of a woman’s rights in a divorce, his speaking kindly with a deemed ‘sinister’ Samaritan woman and his announcing that women were not merely property to be used, because they are reasoned and deserve equal opportunities.
This philosophy astonished those around him, even his disciples. If these stories were true, perhaps it was he who started the equal rights movement, that eventually women in western society gained with dignity and much effort. But now unfortunately, women are choosing to give their equality and respect away and they don’t realise what they will lose. When women lose their right to an equal critical-thinking open education, that society will fail.
2) Charity:
As far back as the first century, Christians were adopting ‘orphaned or deserted’ babies (many were girls), and they instituted orphanages. In the middle ages (500-1500) the monks not only cared for the poverty-stricken, but they also provided education for women – resulting in some women holding leading positions in their communities. In more recent times,
over the past 200 years or so, Christian monasteries concentrated on furthering the rights of children and women.
Early Christians supported widows, orphans, the disabled, the unemployed and prisoners. Nothing like this existed in the ancient world.
3) The Ten Commandments:
Where they originated and how they were handed down is anyone’s guess. Nonetheless, they are the cornerstone of our Western law and, in various forms, remain woven into our society.
There are so many ‘Christian philosophical foundations’ from which to choose but overwhelmingly in our society, Christian values influenced the spirit of care and equality in the West and they should continue to be entrenched in our society.
Unfortunately, all that which is so precious is now being overlooked and superseded by leftist ideologues, who arrogantly and hypocritically believe they can change society like ‘a God’ and are consequently intent on the destruction of the family unit, whilst destroying equality for all.
Their intention to tear down our society is apparent however, they do not know what the replacement will be. Marxists tear down Western societies but are unable to build a new world successfully. They have failed many times at the cost of millions of lives. Look at the USSR and East Germany in 1989 and see the three decades of decline. Far behind the West’s progress. Their infrastructure in decay and disarray and today, Venezuela is in ruins and its people in abject poverty.
The left is intent on the destruction of Christianity and the West. A West which subjugates itself to a barbaric religion that will eventually enact laws that will enable the oppression of all its citizens, including infidels, atheists, women and gays.
It is obvious that citizens of the West are either ignorant of the dangers or they actually desire disaster. Ideological collectivism is the danger as it destroys individual and critical thought so I remain an agnostic but I call myself a ‘Cultural Christian’.
“Vivat plagam.”