| This type of issue came up at a church group bible study in 2017. (Paraphrased) An older man from the early baby boomer generation stated that Western society has declined and is declining. This is a similar view of many traditionalists (born before World War Two) and especially biblical Christian traditionalists. The hosts, that are early Generation Y, millennials, countered this view somewhat and pointed out some of the benefits of progressive thought. My views as a Generation X, baby buster born between the boomers and millennials, and more importantly with my formal and informal education in Christ, is that there is historically no 'golden era' of Christianity. There has always been since the fall (Genesis 3) a very tainted world and each and every secular and religious society is tainted. I can grant that there has been some progression, such as for example with women's rights to work and vote as equals (Genesis 1:27-28: God made male and female made in the image and likeness of God). Medical advancements are a strong premise for progression of a sort. But, I agree somewhat with the older gentleman, the baby boomer, there has been an ethical decline, post World War Two. I reason this relates to a decline in Western society in biblical scripture reading and study, the study of theology, philosophy and philosophy of religion, and the rejection of Christian faith and philosophy by many in Western society. It has also been argued within scholarship that the decline of Christianity began with the age of reason, or the Enlightenment (18th Century). As well, and this is related, there is a perceived general, greater, lack of common sense. Many people lack common sense because he/she does not have a reasonable worldview to draw from. The lack of common sense relates to the image... |
