What paradigm will replace Christianity?

[Kilgore Trout]

Well there will never be a shortage on judge'mentalism anyway.

Truth be told I really don't care.
As long as others leave me alone to keep to mySelf
and do my own thing.

I wouldn't be so judgmental if I wasn't so damned good at it.

 

[Shermana]

In other words, just another sect of Judaism.

Basically.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Basically.

I would rather burn in hell than give up bacon

 

[Shermana]

I would rather burn in hell than give up bacon

Looks like you fit Isaiah 66.

 

[9Westy9]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

Is Christianity dying out? I don't think it is. Not globally at least.

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Is Christianity dying out? I don't think it is. Not globally at least.

only in some people's dreams

 

[-Peacemaker-]

Christianity's decline among certain circles is that it seems to illustrate Jesus' words that it's harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to enter the eye of a needle. Christianity is thriving among people that are suffering, especially in the third world. Basically everyone in America is rich, at least compared to the rest of the world. When people can meet all their physically needs without God's help they tend to get a little cocky

 

[Nakosis]

Christianity's decline among certain circles is that it seems to illustrate Jesus' words that it's harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to enter the eye of a needle. Christianity is thriving among people that are suffering, especially in the third world. Basically everyone in America is rich, at least compared to the rest of the world. When people can meet all their physically needs without God's help they tend to get a little cocky

Material wealth can't meet the needs of one's spirit.
However people get brainwashed into thinking it can.
In the US what one is promised is material wealth but what is delivered is suffering.
We think we possess the earth, yet we possess nothing of importance to our spirit.
Sin is glorified and can distract, temporarily, people from their suffering. However they will still suffer because in the end it is all taken away.

 

[zenzero]

Friend arcanum,

What paradigm will replace Christianity?

The people whom Jesus addressed were those who were not so advanced religiously as in the east and so the language he spoke to communicate was that which the people of that place and time could follow BUT today as friend Junglej stated" When people can meet all their physically needs without God's help they tend to get a little cocky" it is clear that Jesus is yet to be understood or that awakening through his path never happened to the extent.
However the present shift among'st humans globally is that realization that ALL paths lead to the same state of BEING! The shift is now towards being open and not dogmatic about any one path and finding which path best suits the individual and practicing something which could be like mix and match by adopting to whatever path found suitable in a given circumstance.

Love & rgds

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I don't really understand.... Christianity was long ago replaced as the central paradigm of society; it is now wealth consolidation under the facade of capitalism.

 

[arthra]

There are some who are saying that Christianity as a paradigm of the western world is beginning to crumble especially among educated circles. Given it's troubled history maybe it needs to die and be reborn anew, perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it? A renewed version of Christianity or some version of it, or a new spirituality perhaps? Secularism? materialism? atheism or agnosticism? What do you see becoming the new paradigm of the western world as the old one starts to decay in the 21st century that would fulfill peoples inner needs?

I think Swedenborg offered a new paradigm for Christianity in the 18th century...but seriously there are "new paradigms" occuring all the time.. and Christianity has been crumbling you could say for centuries..

It's like a plant that grows over itself .. the inner parts are pretty much dead while a newer part of the plant grows over it...giving it the appearance of a massive growing plant until you notice it's all dried out on the inside. It's called the black eyed susan vine or thunberga alata.

So I doubt the plant of Christianity will simply "die" because it has a way of reinventing itself.

So what do I think..?

My own perspective or paradigm is the Baha'i Faith.. Baha'is recognize Jesus Christ, Prophet Muhammad, the Bab and Baha'u'llah as Manifestations of God.. The Baha'i teachings address the problems of war, extremes of wealth and poverty and racism.

 

[Oak of Justice]

It has already begun and has been foretold by the Lord and His prophets.

The son of man is rising.

Thus says the Lord; " Now, therefore, says the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will take vengeance on my foes and fully repay my enemies!

I will turn my hand against you, and refine your dross in the furnace, removing all your alloy.
I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as in the beginning; After that you shall be called city of justice, faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed by judgment, and her repentant ones by justice.
Rebels and sinners alike shall be crushed, those who desert the LORD shall be consumed.

The mountain of the Lords house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it;

The Lords glory will be shelter and protection for all His people.

The Lord of hosts shall be exalted by his judgment, and God the Holy shall be shown holy by his justice".

I say this;

Everything has been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone who the son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you peace.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find peace for yourselves.
For my yoke is upright, and my burden is light.

The heavens and the earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.

Truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.
Truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. Flesh makes flesh, spirit makes spirit. Do not be surprised that I tell you, you must all be born from above.
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

I am the resurrection and the life; anyone who believes in me, even though he died, he will come to life, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
Everything that the Lord gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

My teaching is not my own it comes from the one who sent me.
Whoever chooses to do his will shall know about this teaching, namely, whether it comes from God or whether I‘m speaking on my own.
Whoever speaks on his own seeks his own glory, but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful, and there is no dishonesty in his heart.

I am the light of the world. No one who follows me will ever walk in darkness, cause he will possess the light of life. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
Once you have the light, keep faith in the light, and you will become a child of light.

I am son of man.

 

[mr black]

I think Watchtowerism.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The 18th century was noted for the rise of humanism, Unitarianism free thought and atheism.
Christianity took a huge knock.
However the 19th century saw a massive reversal of Christianities fortunes. Thousands of new churches were built to accommodate the new converts. New denominations and sects abounded. Missionaries hounded the known world.

Today we see another reversal to the 18th century position, except in Africa where Christianity is growing massively.

Education has very little to do with Faith.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

...perhaps a new paradigm is needed for the 21st century...but would that be? What could replace it?

Worship of the Unknown God. Embracing amibiguity and uncertainty. Defining God as the Force which draws us into the mystery of the universe.

That's probably for the 33rd century, though. We're not quite ready.

 

[Nakosis]

I don't really understand.... Christianity was long ago replaced as the central paradigm of society; it is now wealth consolidation under the facade of capitalism.

If capitalism is a facade then what is really going on?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Worship of the Unknown God. Embracing amibiguity and uncertainty. Defining God as the Force which draws us into the mystery of the universe.

That's probably for the 33rd century, though. We're not quite ready.

Sounds like most of the people I know, actually.

 

[Nakosis]

It has already begun and has been foretold by the Lord and His prophets.

The son of man is rising.

Thus says the Lord; " Now, therefore, says the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah! I will take vengeance on my foes and fully repay my enemies!

I will turn my hand against you, and refine your dross in the furnace, removing all your alloy.
I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as in the beginning; After that you shall be called city of justice, faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed by judgment, and her repentant ones by justice.
Rebels and sinners alike shall be crushed, those who desert the LORD shall be consumed.

The mountain of the Lords house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it;

The Lords glory will be shelter and protection for all His people.

The Lord of hosts shall be exalted by his judgment, and God the Holy shall be shown holy by his justice".

I say this;

Everything has been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone who the son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you peace.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find peace for yourselves.
For my yoke is upright, and my burden is light.

The heavens and the earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.

Truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.
Truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. Flesh makes flesh, spirit makes spirit. Do not be surprised that I tell you, you must all be born from above.
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

I am the resurrection and the life; anyone who believes in me, even though he died, he will come to life, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
Everything that the Lord gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

My teaching is not my own it comes from the one who sent me.
Whoever chooses to do his will shall know about this teaching, namely, whether it comes from God or whether I‘m speaking on my own.
Whoever speaks on his own seeks his own glory, but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful, and there is no dishonesty in his heart.

I am the light of the world. No one who follows me will ever walk in darkness, cause he will possess the light of life. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
Once you have the light, keep faith in the light, and you will become a child of light.

I am son of man.

^^^ Would this be proselytizing?:sarcastic

I think Christians and Jews have totally screwed up the "Word of God" Which makes Messianic Jews totally insane.

The true savior of man is Osiris.
Time to start building Pyramids again.
One must seek the wisdom of Hermes Trismegistos.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

^^^ Would this be proselytizing?:sarcastic

I thought it was satire but now that you mention it...

 

[Quintessence]

I'd say certain paradigms have already replaced Christianity as the dominant "religion" (in a loose sense) in the West. Modern Americans are guided more in their quest for meaning and purpose by capitalism, materialism, and anthropocentrism than they are by any deity. Our most prominent and grand buildings are no longer our churches, but corporate citadels. That is where our values have settled themselves for at least the past couple centuries. The average person seems far less concerned with probing the mysteries of the divine than serving themselves and entertaining the myth of human progress.